If you’re trying to lose weight or just to eat a healthful diet, you realize you cannot eat cookies and cake and potato chips and all that good stuff every day. But here’s some good news for you – you don’t have to give up the things you love forever! You can eat what you like, only in moderation.
Eating treats in moderation helps eliminate those cravings that we otherwise try to ignore but inevitably end of giving in to. And when we give in, we often binge on the “forbidden” item. Instead of telling yourself an item is forbidden, tell yourself that you choose to eat that item, but only in moderation.
Eating something in moderation means eating it in small amounts. It also means not eating it every day. Now, if you have a real sweet tooth or just love potato chips, the idea of eating them in moderation may seem difficult to you. Here are some tips for making it work.
Fill up on good stuff first. Don’t save room for dessert. If you’re really hungry, it’s going to be hard to limit yourself to just one cookie. If you eat a complete dinner of lean protein, veggies and some whole grains, however, you’re not going to have room for half a dozen chocolate chip delights. Having one cookie will allow you to enjoy the flavor without packing on the pounds
Don’t let yourself get too hungry. It’s hard to eat just a handful of chips if you’re starving. Start each day by eating a nutritious breakfast and eat regular meals and snacks throughout the day.
Buy treats in single serving packages. Sure, you could rip open and eat three or four 100-calorie packages of cookies. But you probably won’t. If you have to open a whole big bag of them, though, you’ll be tempted to eat more than 100 calories.
Don’t eat out of the bag. If you don’t buy treats in single serving packages, don’t eat them out of the bag. Put a handful of chips in a dish or one scoop of ice cream in a bowl. Put the rest away, go in another room and enjoy your snack or dessert. It’s harder to overeat if you don’t have a bunch of food right in front of you.
Take time to really enjoy your food. Pay attention to what you’re eating. Don’t eat mindlessly in front of the television set. Take small bites, chew slowly and savor your goodies. You’ll find a little goes a long way if you do that.
Sources:
HelpGuide.org. http://helpguide.org/life/healthy_eating_diet.htm. Healthy Eating.