A matter of size

SMALL PORTIONS



A Matter of Size

Have you ever ate at a very fancy expensive restaurant? Did you notice that the food portions are very small? Do you know that these portions are the size we should be eating? Too bad we have to pay an astronomical amount to get the right size portions.

Super-sized portions are an important reason why 66.3 percent of Americans are overweight. Large portions contribute directly to the number of calories we consume.

For most Americans, feeling satisfied and feeling stuffed are one and the same. But in many places, children are taught to leave the table feeling three-quarters full. In traditional societies, taking food from a shared dish helps to keep portions down. Do you remember the book, French Women Don't Get Fat? It was about portion control.

The trick is to limit yourself to eating high-quality food that is fresh and well-prepared - and then to savor each and every bite, and relax! Eating is about the sharing and conversing in addition to the food.

Walk the Walk

You can train your body and mind to actually prefer small portions. Cut back gently. Acknowledge your fear. You can always have more… Practice these techniques and, in time, you will be happier eating less.

Drink a glass of water before you eat and then sip water throughout your meal.
Begin your meal with a broth-based soup to calm your appetite.
Use a small plate, bowls and glasses, and then don't fill them to the brim.
Plate the food in the kitchen and keep the serving platters off the table.
Put away the extra portions in the refrigerator or freezer right away before sitting down to eat.
Don't stop eating the food you love. Learn to relish a small amount instead.
Eat slowly enough to give yourself the change to be satisfied with less.
Serve more vegetables for your dining companions who think they need to eat more food.
Don't make huge portions of food, instead of a 9x13 dish of lasagna, make two dishes of 8x8, and freeze one for another meal next week.