The festive season, in a word, can be dangerous! It feels like food is everywhere (probably because it is!) …from festive breakfasts, to alcohol fueled lunches and dinners; not to mention a huge variety of sugar and salty snacks that can leave us feeling bloated and overfull. So how much food should we eat? What size should our portions be? How do we know when to stop? Are seconds allowed?
…all good questions but there’s so much contradictory information out there; one place says that working on a points based system works, in others to have only protein drinks, and so on, and on, and on! …no wonder we’re confused.
Here are five quick tips that will help you define how much food is right for your body…
:: It takes 20 minutes for our stomachs to send a signal to our brains to say that we’re full. Solution: Sit down, eat slowly, mindfully, and be present when eating so you ‘hear’ this signal. Obvious? Yes. But so many of us eat on the run nowadays, everythings os loud and fast that we can’t hear that voice.
:: If you’re a quick eater, aim to put your fork down at between 5-10 times through the meal, and bring your awareness to chewing the food properly …aim for 50 times!
:: Have salad or green vegetables cover at least 50% of your plate.
:: Eat off of a smaller plate …try a side plate to start and see how you go. That way you’ll give yourself time to think about whether you need a second helping before you fill the plate.
Hope these help …let me know how you get on, and if you’d like some help and support, do get in touch.
Don’t stress about your diet …just get a new Attitude to Food! www.attitudetofood.com
