Automatic Eating Pattern

Developed by Dr. Jessica Yu, Clinical Psychologist

About The Automatic Eating Pattern

An Automatic Eating Pattern can also be described as impulsive, or distracted eating. Those with this pattern might not be aware of what, or how often, they’re eating because eating is a task that’s usually paired with another activity like driving, sitting at a desk, standing in the kitchen, or thinking about a to-do list. Eating is secondary, something that’s done while focus is elsewhere.

For people with an Automatic Eating Pattern, weight gain may be confusing. They might skip breakfast and lunch, but unknowingly consume more calories than their bodies can burn through distracted snacking alone.

What does an Automatic Eating Pattern look like?

• A tendency to eat while doing other things

• Finishing food quickly

• Eating from containers rather than using plates

• Forgetting what they’ve eaten

• Frequent snacking

• Eating in different locations (at a desk, in the car, on the go)

• Not being picky about food

The habit

The primary challenge for people with an Automatic Eating Pattern is to practice eating with intention. To meet their wellness goals, creating routines around food is the best strategy to help them develop mindful eating habits.

Dr. Jessica Recommends:

People with an Automatic Eating Pattern unknowingly engage in what psychologists like to call "mindlessness".

Juggling tasks and moving from one thing to the next can cause us to go into autopilot, which manifests in our eating habits. The first step towards gaining control is learning how to be present, and mindfulness exercises like breathwork can teach us exactly that. CBT-led self-monitoring skills can also help us build insight and understanding around hunger cues and eating patterns.