Do You Suffer From Refrigerator Addiction?

The raider may not be expecting something new to have appeared; they may just be checking whether something that didn't appeal before appeals now. Happens to me all the time:
"Hmm, nothing to eat in there"
half an hour later...
"Oooh, strawberries. Yum!"

Well, what if it's like Amanda said? Looking for something that didn't appeal before that may actually be healthy, her strawberries for instance. for me, i raid the fridge for cold fruit because that is what i crave

When I was pushing 450+ pounds, I was a hardcore refrigerator raider. I remember as a kid my parents had to literally lock the freezer so I wouldn't get stuff out of it. Once I started losing weight, I realized that all these little midnight runs (the ones not staring Charles Grodin) were the thing that was stopping me from having a better life.

That looks like a boring fridge. Where's the beer?

I have stopped refrigerator raiding by eating 3 meals a day with one optional snack in the afternoon and one fruit at night. I have personally set a goal. I only had to use the refrigerator 3 times a day or less. I check the refrigerator because I was bored and had nothing to do and eating was always a good tool for procrastination. Now there's no need to check what I have from time to time because I could see what is available for the next meal while I get my current meal.

I hate the refridgerator! I have learned to stock it with fruits and vegetables. My son and I are now noticing that we don't open it as much - no junk in it. I also have a sign on my fridge that says "ARE YOU REALLY HUNGRY?" this helps tons!

What an energy waste raiding the fridge must be. To curb such behavior in my house, I write a list of what is inside the fridge on a nearby whiteboard. If someone wants something, it's easier for them to peek at the board than it is for them to poke through the fridge because large heads of green leafy veggies tend to obscure the view.

The best solution is to put a lock with a combination on the refrigerator. So you will have to unlock it to get access, then you will start avoiding opening it... well... hmmm.. dunno...

Amanda, that's pretty funny. I would tend to be like you. I don't raid my fridge but I'm fickle when it comes to my appetite.

I don't raid the fridge because I always know what's in there. My husband has no clue what's in there because he's not as obsessive as I am about keeping food inventory. Usually, he asks me: "Anything good to eat in the fridge?" and I'll say: "There are peaches, or there's salsa if you want chips and salsa, or there's milk, or broccoli....etc". Then he'll decide what he wants and get it.

There's a really easy way to cut down on evening cravings that, refrigerator visits or not, drives the evening non-stop grazing: skip the protein at dinnertime and focus on serotonin-boosting wholesome carbs like pasta, potatoes, bread, rice, and polenta. Carbs allow the brain to make serotonin and when your brain levels of serotonin are high, you feel good, you get mental energy, and, best of all, it cuts your cravings. Stick to low fat (it will just numb you and add extra calories you don't need anyway). Protein interferes with the process so have protein at breakfast and lunch when most people don't need the serotonin to ward off their grazing. There's a reason we all crave carb-laden comfort food so eat for comfort before your cravings get the best of you.
- Nina Frusztajer Marquis, MD

You just wanted to show off that you cleaned your fridge, didn't you? ;)

yeah but unfortunately when i do that i create a good old fashioned shaggy sanwich anything that can go on 2 slices of bread will....Oh well.

Well I have to tell you, I can totally relate to this post! Well written. Thanks.

I raid the fridge, I'll admit it. But I walk right PAST the dishwasher instead, where all the cookies and chips and candy in my house sits. My fridge is practically empty, and even though I check it compulsively, I never eat anything from it, and it stops me from going to the dishwasher instead.

And Nina, you said "Carbs allow the brain to make serotonin and when your brain levels of serotonin are high, you feel good, you get mental energy, and, best of all, it cuts your cravings." That makes perfect sense. A while after I eat dinner (which is Always carbs), I usually do my schoolwork because its the time of day I focus the best. I never knew there was a reason. Thanks for the info!

Your refrigerator is so very neat! How do you keep it so tidy?

Ha. Eating three meals and a few snacks I find doesn't stop me fridge raiding when I am in binge mode. I'm more of a pantry raider though. I was in binge mode in the weekend and could only think about eating. I like the idea about only opening the fridge three times a day.

If you want to break this habit..first you must develop more of an awareness..as most people who do this..know they do..but can't seem to stop as they are on "auto-pilot".

Your subconscious mind has been programmed to do this behavior as it is responsible for 96-98% of your behaviors, perceptions, and actions and conscious mind is only 2-4%.

Here are some tips:

If you catch yourself after the fact, don't beat yourself up..rather acknowledge that you are developing more of an awareness. Sometimes it takes you a few times of this before breaking the cycle.

If you sense what you are doing right before you open the fridge, immediately do something else..as this break the cycle and interrupts the patterns in the brain.

It takes some time and patience but it can be done :)

Heather Picken

I think this happens when we put too much expectation on our refrigerator. Also when people buy too much food that they stack it in their refrigerator gives them the reason to access their refrigerators more.

Raiding the refrigerator is usually do to stress. I was a refrigerator raider myself and finally got some help to reduce my stress by visiting my doctor. I also started using an appetite suppressant and eventually I broke the habit. That is what it becomes (a habit). Habits are hard to break but can be conquered!

yess that's me and you've just made me think of the fridge - sitting there full of food waiting for me to pay a viisit

I think this behavior isn't much of a problem for people living alone. However, for several people living in the same house, it's definitely a problem. Everyone will surely be annoyed.

I would say that I'm a fridge opener, but not an eater. I know that sounds silly, but while I might open it (with no exact purpose in mind) from time to time, I'd say that at least 95% of the time, I don't take anything out. I wonder if it's somehow a stress relieving activity :P