Mindlessly (Better) Eating

If you’re trying to eat better, forget will power. Think: environmental engineering. Social and consumer psychologists who study eating behavior suggest these simple and effective strategies for downsizing your waistline. Read on for 3 more ways to psych yourself skinny.

1) Cut calories before eating. If you want to eat a little bit less each time, serve your normal portion, then toss out two bites before digging in.  This Kaizen-inspired strategy prevents you from having to stop when there is still food on your plate. If you do this a little bit at a time, you’ll gradually eat smaller portions without noticing a shift in satisfaction. (Read about it in One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way)

2) Drink skinny. People consume less liquid from a tall, skinny glass than from a shorter, fatter glass. Sip your smoothie from a high-ball and your water from a double-old fashioned glass. You want to be long and lean, not short and fat, right?

3) Eyes, right! Put good-for-you foods and drinks at eye-level in the fridge and pantry, so they’re the first things you see when the snack attack strikes. Once you lay eyes on the caramel-and-chocolate-drizzled Boy Scout popcorn, your resolve plummets. (Or is that me?!) Put the hummus and carrot sticks front and center.

That’s all for today’s Thinner Thursday post — I was too distracted to weigh in this morning. While you’re surfing, check out Mommy Miracle’s new design. Join the linkup at The Mommy Matters, too!