Tip of the Day - Eat Less
We are lucky enough to live in a country where food is plentiful. We eat not just to fuel our bodies, but for recreation, comfort, and pleasure. Usually, we are more concerned with how it tastes than how it feeds our cells. And most of us eat more than we need to.
In the U.S. the average caloric intake in 2000 was up by 800 calories per day compared to the average caloric intake in 1957. That amounts to 292,000 excess calories a year!
When we consume extra food, we consume extra resources. Think about all the water that goes into irrigating crops. Think about all the crops that go to feeding cattle. Think about all the fuel used to transport food. Think about all that extra packaging. Figuring out your ideal level of consumption and sticking to it is a great way to get greener.
We’ve been on the RealAge.com “diet” for a few weeks now. All of our dinners have come from RealAge recipes, and I’ve been careful to follow portion sizes. Many of the dinner recipes are under 300 calories. At first, I thought, how are we going to fill up on this? But I’m learning that there’s a big difference between what we think we need to eat and what we actually need to eat. I have yet to go to bed hungry.
Portion sizes in the United States have increased beyond what’s necessary or healthy. Want visuals? Check out the Portion Distortion Quiz over at the Department of Heath and Human Services, National Institutes of Health website.
Counting calories isn’t fun, but do it for a week. Try eating only what you actually need to eat for a week. You will naturally get used to eating less. Treat yourself to quality foods instead of going for quantity, and eating this way will feel like a reward.
Halls MD has an Ideal Weight Body Calculator that gives you results from several different charting methods. This will help you get a baseline for a healthy goal weight.
Then check out MSN Health to calculate the correct number of calories to meet your goal.
Use the Menu Planner to chart your calories. Focus on foods that are high in fiber and low on calories, to help you feel full. “Empty” calorie foods don’t fill you up efficiently.
I don’t know about you, but I could stand to lose a few, which is all part of my Better By 40 goal anyway.
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Yes- eat less and save the environment! This is also a great way to save money when traveling– by sharing a meal with a travel buddy.
June 24th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Yes, I think this is very sensible. I often think that people eat after they have ceased to be hungry just out of habit. I do it myself sometimes - feel I ought to finish what is on my plate (particularly at my mother’s house - old habits die hard!) but of course we shouldn’t. Really we should buy and cook less in the first place and even if we do inadvertantly cook too much we should leave it and put it in the fridge for another time. I often have leftovers for lunch the next day.
I am trying to get my children into that habit too. I never nag them to eat everything up. If they fail to eat a meal they can’t ask for snacks in between of course!!!
Great post, Allie. This should be launched as a strategy as it solves two problems in one go.
June 24th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
A lot of us are going to be forced into this anyhow, what with the cost of food where it’s heading. Great post!
June 24th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
You ladies make a good point — eating less does save money too.
RB — I was a member of the clean plate club as a kid, it’s a hard habit to kick!
June 25th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
[…] goes along with Monday’s tip about eating […]
June 29th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Yes - This is great. It’s so true…We are used to consuming waaay more than necessary. I like your challenge!