Eating can be a very social activity - heading out for lunch with friends or enjoying a big family dinner is one of the most popular ways to celebrate a big occasion. But more often than not, you can find yourself having a hurried meal alone. From lunch at your desk to a microwave meal in the evening - solo dining has its pitfalls. According to time.com, there are certain things you need to watch out for when eating alone.
Eating alone can cause *gasp* weight gain! © Cover Media
Portion size
Often jars of sauce are meant for four people - which means the nutrition information will be given per quarter of the jar. If you're making a dinner for one, it's tempting just to throw half of the sauce in without thinking - but this means you're already taking in double the recommended amount. Similarly, other things like pasta and rice can be hard to measure out, so consider doing things by cup size.
If you do make a large amount in one go, have some Tupperware to hand and dish things into freeze-able portions - this also means you won't end up eating the same thing for days on end or wasting anything.
Quick-fix food
If you're making food for yourself, it's unlikely you put in as much effort as when you cook for family or friends. But that doesn't mean you have to rely on convenience food like takeaways or microwave dishes. Metabolising whole food uses about 50 percent more calories than processed, plus eating fresh is often tastier and will leave you fuller and with more energy. You don't have to make a gourmet organic feast - just consider whipping up a curry from scratch with plenty of fresh vegetables rather than relying on a ready meal.
Distractions
Eating alone isn't as entertaining, so you'll probably find yourself doing other things at the same time, such as watching TV, checking social media or catching up on work. This means you might not be as on top of what you're actually consuming - which could lead to overeating.
When having a full meal, take this as important time to yourself. You might feel silly at first, but sit down at the table and just focus on enjoying your food. It will also make you appreciate the flavours a lot more than normal. If it's just a quick snack eaten on the sofa while distracted, don't take the whole bag/box/tub - dish it out into a manageable portion and put the rest away.
Speedy eating
Similarly to eating while distracted, you're also more likely to consume everything at lightning speed. When you dine with others you take more time to savour the moment, but solo snacking is a different matter. If you just keep going without thinking, you're less likely to be aware of when you're actually full up. Take time over your meals and stop seeing them as just a necessity - food is there to be enjoyed. © Cover Media