Five Ways to Eat Fewer Calories

Are you trying to lose weight? Are you having trouble defeating your bad eating habits? Try these painless tricks for eating less without even noticing.

Buy smaller plates. Or buy plates that are large, but have a wide brim with a colorful design on them, making the eating surface appear smaller. The trick here is to make your serving size look bigger than it is, which will help you serve yourself and eat less. You can do the same thing with bowls. Serve desserts in delicate, small dishes that will make your scoop of ice cream look bigger than it is.

Use tall, slim glasses for drinks. The height of the glass will trick your eye into thinking you have more than you do. Use low or no calorie garnishes (mint, lemon, lime, berries) to dress up your drinks, and use a low or no calorie beverage.

Don't eat anywhere but at the table. Make yourself set the table and sit down every time you eat and you’ll cut calories without realizing it. A lot of overeating happens while watching TV, working on the computer, or standing in the kitchen, just "having a little snack".

Find ways to add extra vegetables into recipes. If you have a recipe that calls for all meat, cheese, and starches, add in a complimentary vegetable or two to add color, flavor, and fiber. For example, try spinach and mushrooms in an Itallian pasta dish, or snow peas or asparagus in hot dishes. You'll improve the taste, texture, and nutritional value of the meal while reducing calories per serving.

Educate yourself on the unsavory side of foods. Rent "Supersize Me", and conjure up unpleasant parts of the movie when you're tempted to eat fast food. Do you find yourself eating hot dogs or brats? Look up what’s really inside those puppies. Try to think of healthy foods as good rewards instead of thinking of unhealthy foods as deserved treats.

These guidelines can empower you to eat fewer calories and live more healthfully.