We are all at home and it’s a stressful situation. Many of us turn to food for comfort at such times. But this is precisely the hour that we should keep ourselves healthy – and not overeat. A few tips:

1. Defined meals

Make sure you have defined meals and snacks. Don’t allow breakfast to continue into your snacks. And when you have a snack, make sure it ends in a “k” not an “s”.

2. Distance

Avoid working near the kitchen, pantry, countertops or fridge. If it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind. Keep some nutritious snacks ready to help you when the phuchka cravings strike.

3. Time

When you're stressed, you may think you're hungry, when you are actually not — but a glance at the clock will remind you that you just ate lunch a half-hour ago.

4. Hide stuff

Avoid making snack-type food easily accessible. Keep healthier foods in sight — such as a fruit bowl or jars of nuts and seeds, so that you reach out for them when hungry.

5. Active ways

Instead of thinking about exercise as a means to burn calories, think of it as a food-free stress buster that can help brighten your mood. Go for a walk outside, go biking, if you have stairs in your house, walk those.

6. Drink think

Don’t pour yourself that extra glass of wine. It will make all the difference, and not in a nice way. Ask yourself why you are reaching out for alcohol and see if there is anything — an activity perhaps — that can be an alternative.

7. Don’t beat yourself up

Lastly, cut yourself some slack. Don’t beat yourself up for having a treat.

Information courtesy: www.livestrong.com