If you give me the whole plate of cookies, I will EAT the whole plate. If the Cheesecake Factory sends my meal out on a large plate, I will EAT the whole meal. If a whole tub of popcorn is nestled in my lap while watching a movie, I will EAT the whole tub. That’s just kinda the way it goes. I want it to be different. I want to have enough discipline to simply take a little nibbly bite and then pass it on, and ONCE IN A WHILE, I do, but mostly, if it’s there in front of me, it’s the whole deal.
I have a kitchen full of deliciously cute plates. They are heavy, different shapes, vibrant colors, and HUGE. When I put my little ½ cup of brown rice on one, it looks like an anthill in a very large world. It looks lonely, it needs more. My little scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream is drowning in my oversized square bowl – it needs another scoop to have a friend. Are you getting my point?…
I really think we all have good intentions about staying within a good portion size for our meals and snacks, really, I do. I know that I don’t WANT to eat the whole bag of chips, but sometimes I do because I make a HUGE mistake. The mistake lies in taking the whole bag of chips, opening it, keeping it next to me and dipping my well-meaning hand into it time after time after time… If it’s there, it’s hard to measure portion size.
So here’s the solution, you have to set yourself (and kitchen) up with the right equipment. In my kitchen, I have what I call my “snack bowls”. They are brightly colored and hold about 1 cup of anything.
I use them for little snacks, or treats that I know I deserve to nourish my body with, but at the same time, don’t want to consume the amount my relentless taste buds desire. I use them for cereal, watermelon, cottage cheese, pretzels, frozen yogurt, cucumber slices and anything else my little snacking heart desires. The key is to fill it, and don’t REFILL. Savor each little taste and make it last. This way, snacks are so much more enjoyable and satisfying and you set yourself up for success with portion size rather than the bottomless bowl of treats.
I love eating off of my “kids” plates…the small ones with dividers. I can put the normal serving size on them, but it looks like a huge plate of food. It’s a win-win for me! My brain is thinking it gets a ton of food, but it is exactly the size my belly needs.
I am like you–all or nothing! The popcorn at the movies is the WORST.. and those buckets are huge! I think that we eat with our eyes, not our stomachs, and I for one need to get a grip on that! Thanks for the push. XO
I’m a snack monster. That’s all I tend to eat all day – snacks.
Just shared this on FB, Candice!
I’m right there with you! Except it’s usually my “bowl” is the pint of ice-cream…I’ve worked VERY hard to rid myself of that habit. At least most of the time!
This is exactly what I am trying to get better at too. Popcorn at a movie is the worst… absolute worst!! Thankfully I am better than I was – I used to be able to polish off a bag of candy corn or jelly beans in a day or two.
Ugh. So good, but so detrimental to my weight!!
Boy Candice I’m right there with you! Popcorn grabs me every. single. time! But in my olden days of much more discipline I would purchase the little kids popcorn meal, give them back the candy, butter the popcorn (!), get the kid’s drink full of ice and a splash of coke……..and guess what…….that was plenty!
So when did I lose that discipline, when did I start to say “I’m entitled to a tub AND an adult size coke” – heck if I know. Maybe it’s that I don’t go to the movies very often so 2 or 3 times a year it’s ok to over indulge? It is an ongoing conversation for me. I will say this: I have learned to enjoy any snack I’m having and not feel guilty about it – thanks to Robin! Moderation is the key for me!!
You all are the best!!
xoxo
I went to Ikea this weekend and bought some cute little snack bowls. Thanks for the inspiration!
[...] The Snack Attack Solution by Candice [...]
Yes for snack bowls!! I also eat meals on smaller plates if possible…so helpful. The mind is a tricky thing!
I find that if I do not eat enough throughout the day, I am setting myself up for eating an entire bag of chips at night. It’s important for me, to eat enough to nourish my body throughout the day and evening.