The Rules
I’ve been adding to my list of rules for eating for the last 5 weeks & figured now was the time to write them all down. What I eat is rarely my problem, it’s when, how, and how much I eat that got me to this place (plus no exercise, slower metabolism with age, etc, etc).
The Rules:
- 3 meals a day
- all meals sitting at the table (or my desk at work)
- no distractions like books, newspapers, work, TV, radio, or internet while I eat
- a leafy green (preferably a salad or cooked spinach) with every dinner
- starches must be combined with veggies…so brown rice or whole wheat pasta is okay from time to time, but these must be mixed with equal parts veggies: broccoli, spinach, kale, zucchini, tomatoes, peas, eggplant, etc.
- crunchy veggies with every dinner and lighter lunches (radishes, carrots, cukes, pickles, olives); these are for munching while I figure out if I’m still hungry or full and for fun texture and taste
- small bread plate for lunch
- medium plate (7 inches) for dinner
- a portion of veggie is no more than a cup, a portion of starch is no more than 1/2 cup, a portion of protein is no more than 4 oz, but salads can/should be big.
- no eating meals right after a workout…I tend to scarf down the food without thinking about what I’m doing
- at least 16 oz of water with meals & I actually have to drink it all (what a concept!)
Your rules are a great idea. I’m doing much the same thing. Still have problems with the “not doing anything else while eating” rule. All too often there’s a magazine or puzzle book on the table in front of me. Love also that you’ve decided on plate sizes.
Thanks Feathers! I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog!
Eliminating TV watching or net surfing while eating was a huge one for me, especially since it’s just me in my crappy kitchen looking out on what passes for a backyard in my apartment complex. But meals are a process now, not just an afterthought. The table prep, the food prep, the eating slowly & thoughfully, the boring clean are all an important part of that process…they remind me that I have eaten & eaten well & I don’t need to eat again for a while.