Healthy tips to reducing your portions

I read a version of this on Best Health Magazine's website. I think they're great tips and relatively simple to follow:

1. Wait 10 minutes before reaching for seconds. It takes about that long for our brain to receive the "full" signal.

2. If you're stuffed - or getting there, don't stress about eating everything you've been served. Worry less about wasting a bit of food, and worry more about overloading your body. If you're in the mood to eat a lot or if you like to take big portions, then fill up your plate with healthier options: veggies, salad, or a large bowl of stock-based soup. Large portions of these are okay as they're water-rich and low in calories. 

3. Don't eat straight out of a carton, box or bag. Take the portion you want onto a plate and put the rest away.
 
4. This is a great tip and one that I practice regularly - Use smaller plates and utensils for your meals. You'll automatically control your portion if you have less space on your plate. Similarly, you'll control how much food you intake at once if you use a smaller utensils - or chopsticks!

5. Once your food is ready, take your desired portion and put the leftovers away in the fridge if they're cold, or place them into their storage containers if they're still warm - that way it will take conscious effort to reach for seconds. 

6. Buy or prepare desserts or other high-calorie foods in single serving sizes. For example, make cupcakes rather than a cake. Or if you do purchase or bake a cake, cut the entire cake in advance into individual serving sizes. Trust me, this works!

7. If you're craving more food after your meal, add volume with fruit like an apple. Go ahead and sprinkle a bit of cinnamon on it ;)

8. Most importantly - Give yourself time to eat - sit down, chew your food, take your time and enjoy the taste of your meal.


Follow these tips to keep your portions real and to maintain that sexy waistline!