Description: occasionally are obsessed with food and typically eat when not hungry or even after feeling full.  Generally, they seem to devote excessive amount of time and thought to certain foods like that “mint chip ice-cream sitting in the fridge” or “peperoni and cheese pizza for lunch”.

Compulsive over-eaters may engage in frequent episodes of uncontrolled eating, or “binge eating”. For example, won’t stop until they finish up the “last crumb of potato chips in the bag”.

Eating in this way is generally followed by feelings of guilt and frustration, especially when one is supposed to be on a diet for weight loss and health conditions (diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol…)

Suggestions to fix the problem

It’s not productive to say “well, this is the way I always eat”, and stay in denial. Instead, try to change your attitude and think about your health with everything you eat and do.  Below is a list of tools for you to follow.

What foods to eat

“healthy complex carbs” and “protein”.  Also, less saturated fats

multigrain bread

cheese (swiss, cottage)

spinach

brown rice

banana

turkey

salmon

nuts and seeds

What healthy habits to practice:

• Limit excessive caffeine. Avoid tobacco.
• Plan your plate. Eat slowly.
• Avoid nighttime eating after dinner. Instead, try to distract yourself (exercise, read…)
• Have some herbal tea.  Add Stevia for a sweetener.
• Learn to say “Yes, I want to try something new”. Look at the positive side of things.