1. Evaluate Your Eating Habits
Be realistic about your eating habits. Are you a late-night
snacker? Do you taste your food while cooking? Do you finish the kid's
leftovers? Being aware of these behaviors and stopping them can save a
lot of extra calories you probably won't miss.
2. If You Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail
Have a strategy for what you will eat, and when. Plan your meals
and snacks. Eat something nutritious and filling before a party where
there will be junk food, or stash healthy snacks at work to avoid
temptation.
3. Always Shop With a Full Belly
You've heard this before: never shop for groceries when you are
hungry. You are more likely to make impulse purchases of foods that are
less healthy. Make a shopping list in advance and stick to it. Stock
your pantry and refrigerator with lots of healthy foods so you won't be
tempted by junk foods.
4. Eat Regular Meals
Eat regularly to help yourself feel full, to prevent drops in blood
sugar, or binge snacking. Some people need the old-fashioned three
square meals per day; others do better with six smaller meals. Figure
out what works best for you.
5. Eat Your Food Sitting Down at a Table and From a Plate
Don't eat out of packages, or while distracted by the phone,
television, or computer. Sit down and make eating your only activity so
you can focus on enjoying your food.
6. Serve Food Onto Individual Plates, and Leave the Extras Back at the Stove
Take one serving at a time. Fill your plate with the desired
portion, and take it to the table, leaving the bowls or pots in the
kitchen where they will not tempt you. It can take about 20 minutes to
feel full after you start eating. If you give yourself a second helping
before that time you may overeat.
7. Eat Slowly, Chew Every Bite, and Savor the Taste of the Food
Slow down when you eat. Drink a sip of water in between each bite.
Put your fork down when you are chewing. Make sure all food is chewed
thoroughly. This helps get to that 20-minute mark when your brain will
get the signal from your stomach to know you're full.
8. Don't Eat After Dinner
After-dinner snacking can pile on the pounds and usually the food
choices are not healthy. Resist the urge to eat after dinner. Have a
glass of water or other beverage without calories, or try a piece of
sugar-free hard candy. Brush your teeth to minimize the urge to eat.
Decide you will shut down the kitchen after dinner – sometimes having a
set time the kitchen is "closed" can help you avoid raiding the pantry.
9. If You Snack During the Day, Treat the Snack Like a Mini-Meal
If you must snack during the day, opt for nutritious choices that
include complex carbs and a small amount of protein. An apple with some
peanut butter is a good example.
10. Start Your Day With Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day – we've all heard
it. It's important because your body has been resting all night and it
needs fuel to start your metabolism back up and give you energy for your
day. You'll also be less hungry at the next meal.
medicinenet.com
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