Do Your Thoughts Stand In The Way Of Healthy Eating?

1. You've been working hard all day. It's late in the afternoon, and the word "snack" pops into your mind.

I can't seem to get my mind off of food. I might as well get it because I will think about it the rest of the day.

I deserve chocolate, I’ve been working hard.

Hmmm. Am I hungry or just need a break?

A & B

2. You've had a hard day at work. You are deciding between fast food or cooking something healthier for dinner. You think:

Fast food. I am too lazy to make anything.

I like to cook but cooking is too hard. I am just not good at it.

I don’t have to make anything elaborate, something simple at home will do.

A & B

3. You are out to dinner with friends. At the end of the meal, you are full but everyone wants to get dessert.

It’s okay because everyone else is having it.

But I always order dessert.

I’ll share some with my friend or just to try a bite.

A & B

4. You promised yourself that you were going to eat healthier today. You find yourself nervously munching on rolls during a business lunch. Your first thought is:

Oops, I didn’t realize I was munching mindlessly, time to cut that out right now.

I always mess up.

I can’t help it, I’m nervous.

A & C

5. A friend brings you a dish of your favorite homemade chocolate chip cookies. You promise yourself that you will have only one. When you finish the first cookie, it was so fabulous, you have a second.

I’ve ruined it anyway, I might as well go all the way and have a third.

I feel so guilty!

They are my very favorite, I can eat just a few and skip a snack later.

A & B

6. You are invited to a fabulous wedding. The invitation states that there will be an elaborate buffet, dessert bar and wedding cake. You've been being more mindful of your eating lately. When you read the invitation, your mind says:

I’ll start eating better after the wedding.

Sounds yummy! I can eat or try just a little bit of everything.

I’m so fat! I have nothing to wear.

A & C

7. When you get home from work and you are tired and hungry. There is a bowl of left over mac & cheese in the fridge. You eat it the entire bowl before dinner.

I shouldn’t. Period. My diet books states that mac and cheese is a no-no.

I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten all day. It’s okay to eat when I’m hungry. I’ll have a lighter dinner.

Eating comfort foods always make me feel good for a short time and then I feel like I am a “bad” person.

A & C

8. You agree to have breakfast with a friend at a bakery. They have just brought out hot cinnamon rolls. Your first thought is:

I might as well, have no willpower.

What-the-heck. Who cares.

Cinnamon rolls aren’t really my favorite. They smell great but I’ll pass for something I really, really like.

A & B

9. Your friend invites you over for dinner. She has made grilled asparagus. You think:

Ugh, I hate vegetables.

Hmm. Interesting, I don't really like many veggies, but I am willing to at least give it a try.

I don't think I'll like them so I'm just going to push them over to the side.

A & C

10. You wake up in the morning and think, "Today is the day I am going to eat healthier." By noon, your mind says:

Why bother, I'm going to fail anyway.

I'm too stressed out today to eat healthier.

Change is really hard. But, I'm willing to try.

A & B