reading while eating

[delfin]

Hi all. I've gotten into the habit of reading the paper while I eat breakfast in the morning... and usually continuing to read it at lunchtime, too. (NY Times... big paper!) I'm starting to wonder if this is such a good idea. It's like I'm barely tasting/enjoying the food anymore... just shoveling it in. Plus, I'm thinking I may be overeating as a result. My thinking is that I'll be immersed in some article or something, and the actual eating becomes so rote and methodical that I'm not paying attention to my body, ie: fullness cues, etc. Does anyone else eat while reading, and do you think it causes you to overeat, or just not appreciate what you're eating?

 

[Boybert]

I don't know. I always eat in front of the computer, reading the paper or whatever. Usually my husband is at work or school so that is what I do. I find I really take time between bites and stretch the meal out...but I could see it going the other way, too. I guess it's probably different for everyone.


Debbie


"Time is a created thing. To say 'I don't have time' is to say 'I don't want
to.'" --Lao Tzu

 

[L Sass]

I read the paper while enjoying my morning snack, which I always measure out. But I'm such a slave to my routine. When that snack is done, I continue reading if I have the time. If not, I may save the balance of the paper, but I never sit down to read it with food that I have not portioned out.

Lorrie

Pain is temporary - quitting lasts forever
Candace Grasso, CC-V-6

 

[brickhouse]

YES! As I am reading this I'm scarfing down my lunch! I have been trying (not always succesfully) to eat with no t.v. or reading. I do find that i am more focused on the taste and my fullness, but it's boring! Even when eating with other people, the conversation takes my attention away.

I guess I don't have any good suggestions, just wanted to tell you that you're not alone!

Jeanette

 

[teddy16410]

Enjoyment of food I think is altered if reading or watching TV but if you put a "serving" on your plate it wouldnt necessarily affect how "full" you feel.

 

[red_mct]

For me, it's more like.... eating while reading - or doing any other activity. Ugh. Graze, graze, graze....

 

[paxy]

I can graze better than you can.

Cheryl

 

[maddiesmum]

I don't see why this is a problem. Serve yourself a portion, eat while reading, leave the table, do not go back to the kitchen. All done. Where's the difficulty? If you like, you could even serve yourself a slightly smaller portion than you would normally. Leave the table, then after 30 mins or so, assess if you are still hungry or not and if you need to, eat more. Often we mistake thirst for hunger, so try a drink before consuming more.

I read constantly, through most of my meals. So what. I can still taste the food. Unless you are a complete foodie who lives for food, then carry on as you are. If you miss the taste of food more than you can stomach being bored, then put the reading aside until later.

Clare