An article on NPR discusses a recent study that looks into the daily food habits of obese patients. Researchers wanted to quantify "every aspect of the home environment related to food." They confirmed exactly what I have felt is my main issue. The availability of food leads to overconsumption.
[T]hey also found obese participants tended to keep more food visible in the places they spent the most time compared to non-obese people. If the bedroom was one of their favorite places at home, then snacks were also usually there in plain sight. In other words, food was almost always close at hand for the obese individuals. "It doesn't take a big leap of faith to say if you're spending most of your time where there's more food sitting out to see, that's going to make it harder not to eat," Emery says.The best example I have is the jar of candy. If there is a jar of candy out on the table in close proximity to where I am sitting, I will make several trips to the jar of candy. But if we do not have candy in the house at all, I rarely go out and make a special trip just to buy some.
Though this article is based on observation only, I think the take home message should be, put away your food. Having a tray of candies for "guests" is fine, but don't leave it out when you have no guests, nor are planning to have any in the immediate future.
I agree, unless it is cookies. They should always be available.
Can I just say that that was your father commenting not me. Or does that go without saying?!
I can say that since I stopped buying unhealthy foods, I have been able to stay on my healthy eating plan much easier. Keeping foods unavailable (not even in the house!) has really helped me. When my will power decreases, I tend to be just as lazy, so I’m not going to go out of my way to get unhealthy treats.
This is part of why I am kind of a freak about putting foods back in the cupboards or pantry! The other part is the neat freak in me. But I would argue that we eat more cereal later on (by the fistful, straight from the box, mindlessly) when the box is not returned to the pantry after being opened that morning. On the other hand, bananas should always be available on the counter because I am so much more likely to grab a banana than go to the cupboard, open a box of whatevers (likely Cheez-Its or chocolate somethings), and pour them into a cup to eat. Good post!!