Weight Loss Tip: Don't Serve Food From The Table

There are lots of weight loss tips floating around and many of them work if we actually follow them on a regular basis.  A new research study examined the effectiveness of one weight loss tip on caloric intake.

In this new healthy eating research study, researchers investigated whether the place from which food was served had an impact on how much food was consumed.  For the study, food was served to 78 study volunteers either (1) from the kitchen counter/stove or (2) from serving dishes placed on the dinner table.  The number of calories consumed under each serving condition was measured.  The results showed that:

• Serving food from the kitchen instead of the dinner table resulted in a 23-35% decrease in food consumption.
• The decrease in food consumption that resulted from keeping the serving dishes of the dinner table was greater in men than women.

This is a great example of Mindless Eating®.  If the food is placed on the table in a serving dish and we are allowed to eat what we want, we typically eat more than we realize.  This is because it is much easier to take a second or even third helping if the food remains on the table in front of us.  If we have to leave the table to get an additional helping of food from the kitchen, we are less apt to have a second helping.  The study researchers suggest that this same strategy can be used for foods of all types... simply keep healthy foods, fruits and vegetables in particular, in plain sight and easy reach and hide unhealthy foods from site.

Keep simple ideas like this in mind when trying to develop healthy eating habits.  Following a good diet plan is another way to start developing good eating habits.  My diet plan is an easy and delicious way to help with your weight management goals.