You Are HOW You Eat

We have all heard the phrase, “You are what you eat” but there is also truth in you are how you eat.

Slow Down….

The faster we eat, the more we eat and the less we enjoy our food.  Both of these can cause us to want more food than we actually need. Try not loading your fork with the next bite until you have swallowed what is in your month. Check in with yourself half way through your meal to see how you feel. Are you comfortable? Did that hunger pain or emptiness in your stomach disappear? If so, then you probably have eaten enough and you should save the rest for later. Learn to make the to-go box your best friend. Some people still believe that cleaning your plate is the only way to have a meal. If the food is so good, why not save half and eat the rest later for a second meal? You get to enjoy the food twice plus it saves your checkbook and your waistline. Have a small, healthy snack before going out for dinner, so you don’t arrive “so hungry you could eat a horse.” Start your meal with a mixed green salad (easy on the dressing) or a broth-based soup to help curb your appetite. Request that the bread basket not be brought to the table or place it at the opposite end of the table. Whether you are eating at home or in a restaurant, always try to get vegetables on your plate. Try to fill half your plate with vegetables and start eating those first to help fill you up before you move on to the meat and potatoes.

Mindless eating habits and fast eating can be overcome with practice…one meal at a time.