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We are all prone to the occasional bad habit, but when it comes to those associated with food, we need to think about what we are doing to ourselves.

When we eat foods that aren't good for us, or when we don't eat enough of those foods that offer us nutritional value, our health will start to suffer. We are talking about this on a mental as well as a physical level, as research within the field of nutritional psychiatry has evidenced that the food we eat has a direct influence on the way we feel. A diet high in refined sugars can lead to feelings of depression, for example.

So, finding ways to break your bad eating habits is a must. It's easier said than done, we know, especially if you're prone to temptation, but here are some useful tips.

#1: Shop online

When you shop online, you can resist the urge to buy foods you know aren't good for you. Supermarkets are very good at luring you in with smells that make you hunger after baked items, and displays that encourage you to make impulse purchases at the checkout. And you might spend more time than you should in those aisles that are nothing more than danger zones when it comes to your diet. So, avoid your local supermarket and do your grocery shop online. You will then have more self-control (in theory), and you will be able to research the products you put into your virtual trolley. Of course, when you're online, you also have the freedom to check out specialist health stores, so shop outside of your normal grocery website. The SunHealth AZ website is just one of the online stores you might want to bookmark.

#2: Find ways to manage your stress

Many of us tend to comfort eat when we're stressed, and sadly, this normally entails the consumption of fatty and sugary foods rather than snacks that are good for us. To get around the problem of comfort eating, do two things. Firstly, make sure you only have healthy snacks in your pantry, as some foods have stress-busting benefits. And secondly, do what you can to relieve your stress before you become too overwhelmed. Yoga is obviously a good activity to try, and so are other mindfulness activities, physical exercise, and activities that will make you laugh and feel happy. These stress-reduction tips should also come in handy.

#3: Turn off your TV

Like many of us, you might be tempted to watch TV with a bag of potato chips in one hand and the remote in the other. You might fall prey to TV adverts promoting unhealthy foods too. TV binge-watching is a bad habit in itself, and so is the snack-eating that goes with it. So, find other things to do with your time when you're at home and leave your remote under the sofa. You might practice yoga, for example, or read those books gathering dust on your shelves. This list of indoor hobbies might also prove useful.

#4: Learn how to cook

If you can't cook, you might resort to processed microwave meals, takeaway foods, and snack eating. Such foods are convenient but they aren't always good for you, and this is thanks to the high quotients of sugar, salt, and fats that are prevalent in these foods. Instead, make the effort to learn how to cook a few healthy recipes, perhaps by watching tutorials online or by joining a cooking class in your local area.

These are just a few ideas, so give them a go, and research other tips online to help you break free of those eating habits that could one day derail your health. You will feel better if you do, and you might encourage the people around you to eat better too!