Happy New Year! January is all about resolutions and "turning over a new left". So this month, we're talking about the big nutritional benefits you can get from making just a few small changes. Let's take a look at ways you can start to eat less without leaving your tummy grumbling.
When you taken the time to shop smart and cook healthfully, it's easy to assume that how much you eat doesn't really matter that much. But i see so many peoples in my practice who eat really, really well - they just eat way too much. So controlling your portions does matter - even when your plate is filled with 'healthy' foods - if you're trying to keep your calories in check.
The idea that "your eyes are bigger than your stomach" really applies here. When you're loading up your plate, you're replying on what you see to determine your portion...and that is often a lot more than you can - or should - eat. And we're programmed to finish wherever is put in front of us - Whether it's a lot or little. That's your portion'. And the only way you know that you're finished eating is when the empty plate tells you, "I'm done.
My ideas to help you eat less
- Since the amount of food you're likely to eat is usually determined by how much food is actually in your bowl or on your plate, it makes sense to step back and look at how your food is served, because it can greatly influence how much you eat.
Size of the serving container
- Serve yourself anything - from soup to nuts - from a large container, and you'll allot yourself more than if you'd parceled out your portion from a smaller box or saucepan. And the difference isn't small - we serve ourselves up to 45% more food when the packages we're serving from doubles in size!
Size of the utensils
- You'll serve yourself more if you use a large serving spoon than you will from a smaller one, so be aware of how much you're putting on your plate. "Just a couple of scoops" of anything can add up really fast when the scoop is the size of a shovel.
Size of the plate
- When you use a smaller plate, it looks as if it holds more food - which means your eyes are telling you that plate of food will be more filling. So if you're trying to cut calories by cutting portion sizes, trim the size of your plate, too.
Height and width of drinking glasses
- If you're trying to curb your intake of liquid calories, consider the size and shape of the glass you use.Tall skinny glasses to hold much more than short, wide ones - which fools your eyes into thinking that your stomach will be getting more.
Plating up in the kitchen instead of at the table
- Serving food family style makes it easy for everyone to help themselves...Which is precisely why it's not such a good idea if you're trying to control portions. With serving dishes on the table, it's just too easy to have"Just another spoonful". Instead, portion out your meal in the kitchen. The only serving dishes you should keep on the table are those holding low-calories veggies and salads.
Plate color
- I'm suggesting that you go out and buy new plates, but keep in mind that the color of your plate can effect your ability to visualize how much you're eating. When there's a large contrast between the color of the food and the color of the plate - picture a dark square of chocolate cake on a bright white place - it's easier to visualize the portion, which makes it easier to control how much you are eating.
Finally, you're likely to eat less if you think about the foods you eat first.
- I first write about how most peoples fill up on higher calories foods first and it's an interesting concept to think about. When you're really hungry and you;re serving yourself a plate of food, your're likely to serve yourself more of the highest calories foods that are available - and to also dig into them first once you sit down to eat - which means you're going fill up on those high calories food first, too. If this sound like you, try digging into your salad or veggies first - that way, you'll start to fill up with the lowest calories items first, which leaves less room for the heavier stuff.
Written by Susan Bowerman, MS,RD, CSSD, Susan is a paid consultant for Herbalife.
Nutrition Information from Herbalife-Hub, January 2014.
More info about proper nutrition information, visit Herbalife Products
Regards,
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