"The best diet is the one you don't know you're on". This is the basic theme of the book, Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More than we Think. In the book, Dr. Wansink gives us tips on how to cut about 200 calories per day, which over time, adds up to a few pounds per year. Eliminating 140 calories per day, which is about one regular soda, adds up to losing 14 pounds in a year. The whole idea is to reduce just a little bit per day, so that we don't notice or feel deprived.
Throughout the book, Dr. Wansink offers these tips to help us shave off those few hundred calories each day:
- Dish out 20% less than you think you want. You probably won't notice that missing 20% at all.
- Increase your veggies by 20% per day
- Make sure you see everything you eat. You'll tend to eat less if you make sure you view all the food you are eating before you eat it. Don't eat directly out of the box or other container- make sure you use a plate, bowl or cup for what you consume.
- Design your tablescape to your advantage. Use smaller serving bowls, glasses and plates.
- During your meal, leave the serving dishes in the kitchen, not at the table. "De-convenience" tempting foods by putting them out of view.
- Be aware of your eating scripts, and redesign them. Distract yourself before you snack.
- Don't deprive yourself of comfort foods, just reduce the amount you allow yourself to have.
- Fill your plate up with half vegetables, 1/4 protein and 1/4 starch.
- When it comes to fast food, don't supersize. Get the smallest amount you can and enjoy it.
These tips seem to make sense to me - which ones might you be willing to adopt in order to eat more mindfully ?
We will be hosting a Live Chat to discuss Mindless Eating on Tuesday, August 7th at 3pm Eastern. Hope to see you all then !
Dell- A Lumen
