Mindless eating when watching TV is a bad habit that many of us share. The food commercials can convince us that we're hungry. We could go to the kitchen for a snack and just grab anything we see in a rush to get back to our show before the show starts again after the commercial break. This can become more and more of a habit and late-night snacking can especially be a health problem that may lead to excess weight gain. You can cut down the amount you eat when watching TV by planning ahead and by trying exercise and crafts activities during your shows.
Planning ahead is the best way to control mindless snacking during the time you spend watching TV. You know when your favorite shows will be on, so just prepare something ahead of time like a veggie platter. If your evening snack is ready for you, you'll have no excuse to head for large amounts of empty calories. When you do want to enjoy decadent treats, place your portion on a plate rather than bringing in an entire package of a food item with you to your TV room.
Portion control is really everything when it comes to eating well when watching TV. By controlling your portions ahead of time and sticking to your plan, you won't be devouring a half a box of crackers or cookies before you even realized how much you ate. If you feel extra hungry, try air popped popcorn or baby carrots.
Exercising while watching TV is a great way to take your mind off of food and firm up at the same time. Whether you work out on an exercise bike or other machine or just do sit-ups and leg lifts, watching TV can make doing your exercises more enjoyable while still keeping you out of the kitchen. Many people find that they even feel less hungry after they exercise.
Doing a craft project such as knitting, crocheting or cross stitch is another great way to keep your mind off of food. You may find completing craft projects while watching TV very relaxing as well. As long as you're working on something you like while watching TV, you may not even think about eating.