Time for another Change It Up – where I suggest a SIMPLE tip that if implemented can have a big impact on your life.

This one is so blindingly obvious and yet it’s amazing how many people don’t give it a go. Start switching to smaller plates – and guess what – you’re probably going to lose weight!

Humans are interesting you know! In studies it’s been shown that we’ll eat more food, even when we’re not hungry, if it’s in front of us and available. It’s pure bad habit. And when research participants used smaller plates they ate less. In fact if you look back in American history you’ll see that EVERYTHING is bigger today then it used to be.

As a nation we used to eat from 6-inch plates but now 9 inches or more is the common plate size. And of course as plate sizes grew, so did our rear ends and waistlines! Coincidence? I think not. This advice even extends to salad bars where you pay by the pound. I learned this next trick from my girlfriend – use small soup containers for food in place of the tins. Those shiny little tins, even the small ones, can hold quite a bit of food. And the fact that the plastic cover is a pop-top allows you to stack in even more unnecessary calories. I’ve seen people on line with that tin almost ripping at the seams!

When you use a smaller plate and combine it with a smaller fork or spoon, YOU WILL EAT LESS. And here’s another tip – never eat in the kitchen or near the food! Once you put the food on your plate walk away and don’t go back. Dish out serving sizes for as many plates as you need and then pack the rest away in single serving containers.

I know this sounds like an ‘eating for dummies’ chapter excerpt, but sometimes it’s the methods that are simplest that work the best! So give it a go and CHANGE IT UP!