The end of mindless eating?
Fri, 2010-11-26 10:38Written by Tarja, Nokia Wellness Diary team
The last days I have been reading about a fascinating book called “Mindless eating” by Brian Wansik, director of the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab. Yes, you read right. I have read about the book, but I have not yet read it. I am absolutely going to do that as soon as get hold of it.
According to Brian the mind makes more than 200 food-related decisions a day, and many of them without pause for actual thought. The book argues that we don't have to change what we eat as much as how we eat. And by making more mindful food-related decisions we can start to eat and live better.
I got so fascinated that I took a “Mindless Quiz” to find out how mindless I am. (You can too from the bottom of this page.)
My result was that I am “Mostly Mindless Eater”.
I could not agree more with the result. But what comforts me is that I am not alone. The result page says that I have a lot of company! I certainly make huge amounts of mindless food-related decisions - or let’s admit - goodie-related decisions. I tend to eat biscuits and sweets without even thinking about it. Eating only a couple of sweets does not “count” at all, I do not even remember doing that in the end of the day. I also have bad food habits. For example, I eat and read at the same time. I am not going the reveal more of my bad habits to you at this point, though. Stay tuned and I might tell you more after reading the book.
At this point I have decided to start using Wellness Diary to start monitoring my goody intake. Frightening, but I guess I have to.
Comments
Wow, this review impressed me, if I'll find that book in italian, I'll surely read it, if not, I'll read it anyway :)
and, thinking about this, you can put more specific foods in wellness diary to have a very good food monitor...
Hi thesplitter!
I am afraid that the book might not be in Italian yet, but I hope that it is. I certainly have to read it - I just got a copy today. Yes, we have to see how to improve the food monitor also :-). We strive hard to make it better all the time!
Nice post ! This is why i like Betalabs. Its more of community , open approach where people share and learn.
Just read reviews of book on Amazon, looks like great read.
Best Regards,
Suyog
http://mobileyog.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/mobileyog
mby i found it in italian :P
http://www.bol.it/libri/Mindless-eating.-Perche/Brian-Wansink/ea97888605...
is it this?
anyway i bought it now xD
I took the quiz and found it absolutely useless.
*** spoiler alert ***
I finish before others because I eat less than them.
I eat everything on my plate because I carefully control my portions and eat neither more nor less.
I rarely eat chicken wings but when I do, I eat exactly my predetermined number - what difference does it make whether I keep the bones on my plate or throw away them in a bone bowl as I eat them?
I usually eat in my car because I can control what I eat better, can eat healthier, and can eat cheaper, than if I go into a fast-food place.
I don't pack a lunch because I normally come home for lunch - better, healthier, cheaper.
I do these things because I am diabetic, and if I don't control my eating carefully, there can be health risks ranging from discomfort to amputations, blindness, even death.
Doing these things, I reduced my weight from 267 lb (~121 kg) to 186 lb (~85 kg), a loss of 81 lbs (~ 37 kg).
But the quiz says I am doing poorly and need to improve?
Sorry, but that is complete nonsense.
The book may be okay (though I wonder) but the quiz needs to be seriously reconsidered.
Cute post, cute promo for your software.
Hi Syuog!
thank you for your nice feedback! It really is our intension to share experiences, thoughts and opinions. All kinds of experiences and opinions.
Hi thesplitter!
yes, that is the one! You are soon ahead of me, since I just ordered it from Amazon. I suppose you get it before me :-)
Hi abwinston!
I am sorry to hear that the quiz did not work for you at all. But very happy to read that you have managed to loose that much weight! Fantastic.
You must have learnt a great deal while doing that! You know yourself what works best for you!
I wish you all the best!