Food Portions and Discipline In The Kitchen
In this post, I will discuss my three steps for maintaining proper food portions and discipline in the kitchen.
Food Portions and Discipline In The Kitchen
Today I want to talk to you about food portions and discipline in the kitchen. Have you ever felt guilty when you indulge in your favorite foods? I know I have… and it seems like I’ve been indulging more often than not living with the queen of sweets. But I don’t want you to feel guilty for indulging. You shouldn’t feel guilty about indulging the food you love if you can follow these few steps.
Food Portions and Discipline
Step #1: Know Serving Sizes
Up until about two years ago, I had no idea what an actual serving size was. I would guess, and that was it. Once I decided to buy a food scale, I have never looked back. Owning something so inexpensive yet so important in your life (if you want to manage your portion sizes and know what a true serving is) couldn’t be easier. Click here to see the exact food scale that I use on a daily basis in my home. You can pick it up at Amazon for about $25. I think the best thing about using a food scale is actually seeing what a real portion size is. When you can see an actual portion size is, you can build your meals more effectively.
Another tip going along with portions is to increase your portion of lean protein and vegetables for each meal. Doing something like this is going to help keep you fuller, longer and make sure that you are able to reach whatever goals you have for healthy living. To read more about the importance of protein, click this link right here. Oh, and another side note I didn’t mention in my podcast: measuring is more accurate with a food scale as well. Take a look at my wife’s post all about measuring portions and measurements when baking/cooking by clicking this link right here.
Food Portions and Discipline
Step #2: Indulge in Moderation
Think of your favorite foods, they probably are more on the unhealthy side than healthy side, am I right? Everyone tells you, you shouldn’t eat those foods; cookies, cakes, ice cream, pizza, etc. because they will make you fat. Well, those people right. If you eat those foods, all the time, every day, for every meal, you can probably count on weight gain in the form of fat. But, if you eat wholesome, real foods a majority of the time and indulge in moderation, you can enjoy your favorite foods without feeling guilty. Of course, a regular diet and exercise will help with any goals you have for healthy living, but if you have an indulgence here or there, in moderation, you will be just fine.
Food Portions and Discipline
Step #3: Keep Going, Don’t Stop
Have you ever heard the saying, just because you get one flat tire doesn’t mean you should slash the other three. I mean, who would so that anyway??! That just seems silly. But so many people do this with their food portions and discipline in the kitchen. What do I mean? Well, for example, if you decide to have a slice of pie during the holidays, that’s like getting one flat tire…you’ve hindered your healthy mobile. But that’s ok! The problem that most people have is when they have that one slice of pie, they think, “oh well, I’ve already failed on my healthy eating goal, I’m just going to have another slice (tire 2), and a cookie (tire 3), or two (tire 4), or three (forget it, I’m cutting up my license).” Haha. But seriously, just because you slip up once, doesn’t mean you’re finished! Step number three goes along with my previous point of indulging in moderation. I think one of the best things about indulging in moderation is that it builds resiliency. If you eat healthy and eat well a majority of the time, and you indulge every now and then in those favorite foods that you love, you will be able to understand how your body reacts to those foods and know yourself better.
So how do you get by without cheating when you’re clean eating? Pick and choose your battles, indulge in moderation, and don’t give up if you get flat tire on your clean eating mobile! Plug that hole, pump that tire back up, and keep going. The only time you fail is when you give up. Don’t use that one fail as an excuse to give up on healthy eating and healthy living. That’s what losers do, and you’re not a loser.
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