Sneaky Santas Will Try to Snatch Your Self Control

January 6th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Healthy Habits

I have this habit of leaving the cupboard doors open in my kitchen. I don’t know why I do this, I didn’t even notice until a friend pointed it out. I didn’t really care about open cupboard doors until last week, when I kept catching these chocolate Santas glaring at me each time I walked by them.

Chocolate Santas

Stupid santas! Here I am merrily minding my own business, when suddenly I catch a glowering santa in my peripheral vision and BAM! Now I’m thinking “ooooh! chocolate!”, when moments earlier, chocolate had been the furthest thing from my mind. Probably about as far away as the thought of closing all my cupboard doors.

Anyway, the evil Santa twins reminded me of an oldie but goodie tip when it comes making better food choices:

Get unhealthy foods out of sight.

I prefer to keep foods like this out of the house all together, but that’s not always easy and not always possible. Maybe you’ve got kids who get treats as gifts. Maybe you work in an office that has a bottomless candy jar. Maybe you put food away like a good girl but never remember to close your dang cupboard doors. Or maybe you’re simply new to this healthy eating business and old habits die hard. I know I ate more cookies and treats over the holidays simply because they were laying around! When foods like this are out of site, it’s a lot easier to not eat them.

Those santas are now staring at the back of a coconut milk can and have stopped giving me the stink eye so I can leave my cupboard doors open in peace. Stash (or trash) any leftover holiday goodies and save your willpower for when you really need it.


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2 Responses

  • Lisa says:

    I, too, leave my cupboard doors open. My mom does it too—and I never noticed until like 5 years ago when my friend told me she has been closing our cupboard doors when we’re not looking since 1990.
    I threw out some junk food recently so it would stop taunting me… but I have to admit that the day before I ate extra junk food so it would be gone and, well, it stopped taunting me then too (however, I sure didn’t feel good or feel good about it!).

    • I too have eaten things so they’ll be gone, and/or then throw them away so they’ll stop taunting me.

      I’m glad I’m not the only one leaving cupboard doors open! We can start an Open Cupboard Door club. All are welcome! Join us! Just don’t bang your head on your way in.