Winning the Battle of the Bulge by Improving Your Plate Game

The brain makes millions of decisions every day and most times, we do certain things unconsciously. Unfortunately, food makes the best distraction. In the thick of it, you could be making bad eating habits and you’re not even aware of it! Making little adjustments to your eating habits can go a long way. In today’s post, we are listing down ways to help you turn your dinner plate into a tool that can help you lose weight!

Avoid Eating off Other People’s Plate

Are you a hoover? Do you take food from other people’s plate all the time? If you are, this is one habit that’s making you fat! Eating balanced meals is not just about choosing healthy foods but the manner in which you eat. Hoovering is considered as mindless eating.

When you eat from other people’s plate, you increase your caloric consumption. And it takes the brain 20 minutes before it cues the body to stop eating. When you eat mindlessly, you consume more than you should. This leads to weight gain. If you feel so stuffed after a meal that you could hardly breathe, that’s a clear sign that you’ve overeaten. And this feeling is common among hoovers. Our advice? Focus on your plate. If you can’t help yourself then focus on portion control instead. This way, you don’t mindlessly stuff yourself full. Also, eating off other people’s plate is considered rude because most people consider their plate as part of their personal space.

Changing Your Plate Color

What do most restaurants have in common apart from serving food? Their interiors are mostly done in varying shades of orange, yellow and red.  Studies show that these colors promote and intensify the feeling of hungriness. Now, imagine what these colors can do if your plates are colored orange, yellow or red. You end up eating more!

To minimize the chances of overeating, why not use blue plates instead? Studies show that changing your plate to any shades of blue can suppress the appetite effectively. You can also use blue place mats or wear a blue dress to keep your appetite in check during meal times.

Use Smaller Plates

It may be the oldest trick in the book, but it’s also the most effective in keeping your appetite in check during mealtimes. When your eyes are bigger than your stomach and your plate is even bigger, there’s a good chance that you will overeat. To leave nothing to chance, use smaller plates. Using a smaller plate limits the amount of food you eat while fooling the brain into thinking that it’s eating more. It’s a great trick especially if you’re hitting the buffet or you’re on vacation.

Developing the Perfect Plate Portions

Don’t pile food on your plate blindly. Develop the perfect plate portions so you don’t go overboard. Start by creating imaginary sections on the plate. Half of your plate should be reserved for fruits and vegetables; the rest is left for meat and grains. When you fill your plate with more low-calorie foods, you feel satiated without feeling deprived.