Drops Pounds, Not Fave Foods: Real Healthy - Real Healthy - Cooking

Drop Pounds, Not Fave Foods: Real Healthy

No Comments | Written on August 8, 2012 at 11:00 am, by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

Trying to lose a pound or two? Struggling with portion control? Here’s an easy trick to help you eat healthy by eating a bit less without feeling hungry or deprived.

A series of experiments conducted at Arizona State University suggests that cutting your favorite foods into smaller pieces is a painless way to also cut down on the number of calories you take in. Apparently, our sensation of fullness is subconsciously affected by how many items we see on the plate when we sit down to a meal.

Here’s an example: When researchers cut a bagel into four pieces and asked subjects to eat as much as they wanted, the subjects ate less of the bagel than those who were given the entire bagel in one piece. Not only that, but when both groups sat down to lunch a little while later, those that were given the bagel pieces ate less at that meal, too.

What I love about this trick for getting less calories is that it doesn’t require anyone to forego a favorite food or stop eating before we’re satisfied. Try it at home and see how it works for you. Try it when doling out treats to the kids as well!