Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Do You Know Your Eating Style?

Most of us have a certain style: the way we dress, how we wear our hair. But have you ever considered your eating style?

Is the ice cream in your freezer calling out your name until the last bite is finished, or will you find it three months down the road with a bad case of freezer burn? If you’re trying to lose weight, or make a habit out of healthy eating, it helps to know your eating style.

Once good nutrition is your norm, an occasional indulgence will be just that – occasional. In the meantime, which style is yours?

A little dab will do you. You are able to have a bite or two of something decadent then go right back to your healthy habits. That little taste is enough to hold you over for days or even weeks, helping you to stick to your nutrition goals.

Your indulgences are eaten thoughtfully, one piece at a time; you would not dream of overdoing it. So go ahead and keep some treats in the cabinet since you are not at risk of going over your self-imposed limit.

Out of sight, out of mind. If you don’t see that high calorie treat, you don’t want it – in your mind it does not exist. You know yourself well enough not to partake of that candy just because a co-worker offers it to you. Your little indulgence becomes a daily ritual and you’re back at square one trying to break an unhealthy habit.

You are best off avoiding desserts and high calorie snacks, even in small amounts, until you have made healthy eating your norm. Then you’ll cross over into the “little dab will do you” category and a little will go a long way.

I can’t believe I ate the whole thing. Your intention is one bite of leftovers or cake, but before you know it, the plate or container is empty and you’ve consumed a few hundred extra calories without giving it a second thought. You are best off putting all leftovers away immediately and not allowing yourself to be left alone with high calorie foods that might call to you in the middle of the night.

--Rosemarie Lembo James
Clinical Director of Nutrition Services

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