If only eating were all about taste. We could all be happy with a tiny serving of beautifully dressed, decadent gourmet creations. But alas, our brain knows what we want—and what we have been conditioned to want are large, overflowing portions. A few simple changes to your diet delivery can help you outsmart your visual desires and keep your portions sizes under control.
1. Smaller Plates
The average American dinner plate has a diameter of about 12 inches. Subconsciously filling that plate to its capacity can set you up for diet disaster. If an overflowing plate is what you crave to see, scale down the plate. Use a smaller salad plate, or serve your meal in a bowl.
2. A Bed of Greens
An effective—and healthy—way to trick your brain is to plate every meal on a bed of mixed greens. Not only does this fill up your plate leaving less room for oversized portions of other food, but gives you a healthy kick too.
3. Create Meals to be Proud of
Eating something you are proud of can give you a sense of accomplishment. So instead of mindlessly shoveling food into your body, you can eat with proud reflection on the tastes and composition of a meal you created. Make it beautiful, make it delicious—make every meal a gourmet meal to savor rather than just consume.
Keeping portions under control can be challenging in a country that values visual images. Knowing the pitfalls—and how to outsmart them—can give you the keys you need to eat sensibly.
