Nutrition Tip of the Week

Waste on the Waist

As a kid, did you have mandatory membership in the "clean plate club"? Can you recall the last time that you actually left a few morsels of food on your plate? When faced with either a box of chocolates on Valentine's or a meal from our favorite restaurant, our subconscious mind routinely reminds us to clean our plate and not let food go to waste. But, the real dilemma is although the food is not being wasted, the additional calories are taking their toll on our waistlines. In this instance, eating more than the body needs can also be viewed as a waste in fighting the battle of the bulge. Staying focused on the goal of portion management to achieve weight maintenance and loss is essential to long-term success, which may require deactivation of your "clean plate club" membership. Try the following tips to maintain focus on your weight goal and to prevent the additional waistline waste: At the restaurant, request a to-go box and box up half of the meal when it arrives so that you are not tempted to finish off the entire plate, try ordering an appetizer or lunch portion for your main meal, request double vegetables on your plate, and if ordering dessert, split it with the entire table instead of ordering your own. When you receive a holiday sweet or desserts, portion out what you can afford to eat without jeopardizing your nutrition goals, and take the rest to the office. And remember, eliminating food waste is important, but managing the food that finds its way to your waistline is the goal.

This nutrition tip of the week is brought to you by Melinda Safir, R.D. Melinda specializes in weight management as well as preventive and cardiovascular nutrition and wellness. For more information or to schedule a nutrition consultation, call 972-560-2655.