Sitting or standing… that is the question!
Let’s face it; the reality of sitting down to a home cooked dinner is so in the 90’s. Families and individual’s these days are finding themselves eating on the road, while standing in the kitchen, sitting in front of the television, or in front of the computer at work.
There are thousands of excuses to why people can’t find time to sit down for meals, but these excuses could be the culprit to an expanding waste line.
Research has shown that those who sit down to a COMPLETE meal, as well as snacks, are less likely to eat more calories throughout the day.
Sitting down to eat compared to standing up while eating plays a mental game with our food diary. The mind does not recognize when we eat on the go or while standing… leading us to snacking after the so called meal.
Visually seeing everything laid out on a plate also helps to visually satisfy those cravings/hunger and helps one pay attention to what we are putting in our mouths.
Eating while sitting down at the table compared to standing up or on the road ultimately makes the meal more satisfying and full.
So the question is, are your excuses for not sitting down at the table valid. Do you really have an extra few minutes to walk to the table?
Question
Where do you typically eat your lunch or dinner?
Do you eat your snacks on the go or sitting at the table without distractions?
{ 18 comments }
I’m not gonna lie, sometimes I stand to eat. Sometimes, it just feels good to stand to eat!
I don’t like eating while standing. It feels, I dunno, less satisfying? Almost stressful. I’ve done it a few times, when I have to rush out the door and I’m cramming a protein bar down my throat, but I hate that dissatisfied feeling that follows. =P
That said, I like to multi-task while I eat. It makes the meal last longer, and I enjoy it more. When it’s just me and my food, I get bored and eat faster because I want to get up and do other stuff. I check my messages/computer while I eat breakfast.
I always eat sitting down, it’s something my family always did growing up and I guess it’s just instilled in me.
i almost always sit down while i’m eating. i know for a fact that if i eat standing up, or when i stay in the kitchen, i eat soo much more!
I always eat on my couch while I watch TV…mostly because my kitchen is in my livingroom….
Sometimes I stand to eat, but most of the time I do sit. I think it is great advice.
I am proud to say I sit and eat pretty much every meal and snack. The only time I don’t is when I’m running late which is pretty rare. I find that it is a good rule of thumb and definitely allows me to savor my food so I don’t get bored later on and snack.
My hubby and I always have dinner at the table. I also eat breakfast every morning at the table and make sure I stop what I am doing at work and have lunch. I need to be better with this while snacking, since that is often done on the go or while working.
sadly i eat lunch and dinner usually at my computer desk lol! i wish i didnt but somehow whenever i try to eat at the table i feel more on edge.. its liek i dont know what to look at. even tho obv. i should look at my food.. its just like weird to me or something. feels off.
my mom used to always eat her meals standing.. but she also had IBS.. since then she’s been sitting down when she eats and now she no longer has stomach issue. interesting…
great post <3 <3
Err.. I usually eat standing up or in front of the computer.
I know that I shouldn’t but I always seem to be so rushed and sometimes I just like to stand while eating.
I’ll definitely try to do more sitting and eating instead of standing and eating because I really don’t have any GOOD reasons as to why I “can’t”.
You can usually find me eating dinner in front of the TV… but lunch & breakfast I am at my counter! I like to sit down when I eat for sure… although my quick snacks: yea, I stand, whoops!
I am pretty fortunate to be able to eat most meals at home. That allows me to sit at the table, take my time, and usually read through a magazine. I actually get stomach aches if I eat while standing up, running around, etc.
I have read this research too & it makes sense to me. Standing up, we tend to be rushed & just often may eat mindlessly. I sit down to eat BUT I must admit that I am usually watching the news or a pre-recorded show.. but I still eat mindfully! Guess it is just art of my lifestyle.
I try not to eat standing. I read this a couple years ago, and it’s true! Food eaten while standing is not usually planned. I stand only for after work snacks…trail mix as I’m changing for my other job. Actually, I often eat breakfast standing, but that’s ok because it’s good breakfast, and I”m making my lunch at the same time.
Well, I sit when I am eating…although sometimes, mainly breakfast, I am eating walking to the counter :-, to save time…
I usually eat about half of my breakfast sitting down and the other half while I’m doing my hair. I always sit down for lunch and dinner but I’m terrible about distractions – reading a magazine, watching Friends, etc. Thanks for the reminder to be more conscious of my eating patterns!
i always make sure to sit down when I eat anything. It really does satisfy me more and allows me to savor/enjoy my food.
Hello! Thanks for the comment on my site and review! Sorry for not responding earlier! I also feel like a jerk for not having you on my blog roll! Sorry! Let me know if there is a specific product you’d be interested in me reviews or giving info on. It is what I do! I am the biggest mindless eater! TV, computer…. I prefer sitting down to eat and not on the run! It doesn’t actually feel like ‘a meal’ if I’m ‘walk eating’!