Can something as simple as a kitchen makeover make you slim? Brian Wansink's new book, Slim by Design, describes how to rearrange your surroundings to slim down, even if your willpower is lacking.
Five questions will reveal whether your kitchen slimming or sabotaging:
Question 1: What lingers on your countertops?
People with a box of cereal on the counter outweigh those with clear countertops by 21 pounds. On the flipside, homeowners with a bowl of fruit on the counter weigh 7 pounds less than those with no visible fruit.
Question 2: What’s in your crisper?
Although crisper drawers were meant to keep produce fresh, it’s usually the place where they go to decompose. Move produce from those hidden drawers to the top shelf of the fridge, and you will eat three times more produce.
Question 3: Where do you store cookies, chips and crackers?
You might think I'm going to suggest you banish these foods. I am a dietitian, but I'm also a realistic mom with kids who enjoy the occasional treat. However, these “snacky” foods should not be staples. Make tempting foods invisible and inconvenient. Store snacks up high, in opaque containers, and buy only one “snack food” at a time.
Question 4: Do you think bigger is better?
Bigger packages offer bargain prices, but money saved translates into more calories spent. People eat 22 percent more from bigger packages. If you are unwilling to give up your big bargain packages, break them down into smaller servings and store extras out of sight.
Question 5: What size are your dinner plates?
You will automatically serve yourself 22 percent less food if you use 10-inch plates or salad plates compared to a larger 12-inch dinner plate.
Survey your own eating environment. You might find that a few simple changes will improve your family’s eating habits and may even whittle your waist.
A regular contributor to local and national publications, registered dietician Jennifer McDaniel, of McDaniel Nutrition Therapy, specializes in weight management, sports and family nutrition, and corporate wellness.
