On Monday, we learned a new method of portion control. It does not require weighing or measuring your food, nor do you need to record what you eat. It is called the "Half Plate Habit." Yesterday, we went grocery shopping and learned a simple (and tasty) tip for keeping your buying habits under control while at the grocery store or market.
What about
at work? Oh, that is a major challenge, right? I know coworkers who always have
a bowl of candies on their desk. In fact, I have a bowl of candy in my cubicle,
too.
There are
two saying that could apply here. One is “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
But the saying which really applies is “Out of sight is out of mind.”
Did you
notice the difference with my candy bowl? Mine is not on my desk. I keep it in
a cabinet drawer, locked, behind my chair. I only use it when I know I am
meeting with students, especially at the end of the semester. I unlock the
candy, and place it out just before the students arrive, and when they leave, I
immediately lock it back up.
The time it
takes to unlock my cabinet is just enough for my “decider brain” to kick in and
remind me that I really do not want nor need that candy. Another option is to
put the candy in a covered bowl (ideally not a clear bowl) and moving it a mere
six feet away. Just six feet! Those few steps are enough to get your “decider
brain” active and in control. Candy in sight and within reach is candy that
will be eaten.
Something
else to do at work is to lock you purse or wallet in another drawer. That will
prevent the random wander past the vending machines or cafeteria. The other tip
for the work place is to bring your own food from home. When you pack your
food, you are in control of everything. You know exactly what you packed, and
how much you have. (Remember, you will still use the “Half Plate Habit” even
when packing your food.)
Don’t sit at
your desk and eat. Go to the cafeteria or go outside and eat while enjoying the
sun. But don’t bring your money with you, so that will eliminate the temptation
of buying some food there. Enjoy your time away from your desk. Enjoy your
food. Recharge your mind away from your desk.
And just a reminder, if you do not want to wait, you can listen to last week's podcast, where I list all five suggestions. The show is about 30 minutes long, and you can find it here. You can also subscribe to my podcast in iTunes (for users of Apple products) or Stitcher (non-Apple devices.)
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I want to acknowledge Dr. Brian Wansink and both of his excellent books, “Mindless Eating” and “Slim By Design”. His research and more importantly, his well-written and easy to read books were the source of these suggestions.
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