What to eat in front of the TV to avoid gaining weight

During the quarantine, eating "like a TV show" has become one of the most affordable pleasures for people. However, such entertainment can result in extra pounds on your waistline.

When watching your favorite TV show, you don't think about how much food you've eaten. The most popular snacks for watching the new season of the popular series are popcorn, chocolate, and chips. This is reported by The Sun.

Here are some tips to prevent overeating and, as a result, weight gain.

Reduce portions

You don't have to give up your favorite treats, but you should reduce your snack consumption. Experts advise putting chips in a smaller bowl, as they are eaten faster from "bottomless" plates.

Rob Hobson, head of nutrition at Healthspan, urges snackers to do so more consciously.

"Slowly enjoy every bite, not just chew your food mechanically," the expert emphasized.

Choose a less emotional genre of the series

Horror movies and tear-jerking dramas can cause overeating. This is because an emotional outburst makes a person seek comfort. And snacks are a great consolation.

Skip commercials

When watching TV shows, commercials, especially those featuring food, can provoke a desire to eat.

Give preference to a healthier snack

Hobson emphasizes that foods with a high water content are optimal:

"Instead of a snack high in fat, sugar, or salt, you can have a mountain of chopped vegetables like cucumber, peppers, or carrot sticks with a spoonful of dip," and watermelon, strawberries, and blueberries are also healthy alternatives.

Think about a "serial" menu

If fruits and vegetables are not what your heart desires at the moment, you can analyze what you want most.

Healthspan psychologist Meg Arroll advises you to think about what flavors, textures, and tastes you want.

Watch TV shows in a company

Feelings of loneliness and isolation can be a trigger for mindlessly eating junk food. To avoid emotional overeating, invite friends to watch a new Netflix series.

Don't be distracted during dinner

Most often, the time to watch movies is in the evening. You need to pay maximum attention to dinner. The expert advises not to eat in front of the TV screen.

"Sit down at the dinner table without distractions, chew your food thoroughly, and place your cutlery between sips to help your body recognize satiety signals," Hobson says.

Pay attention to drinks

Tea, hot chocolate, or decaf coffee can have the same effect as a snack while watching TV, but with fewer calories and less sugar.

However, you shouldn't switch to soda, as it has little benefit and a lot of sugar and dyes. Moreover, it activates the hormone responsible for hunger.

To track how often you abuse unhealthy foods, experts advise an original but effective way to collect packaging.

"When you eat, keep the wrappers or packages in plain sight – this visual representation is often enough to understand the extent of overeating," Arroll emphasizes.