7 Easy Ways to Eat Less This Year

A friend forwarded on this information. I think these are great reminders and fun tips to pass along. Some I have not heard of before. In the New Year I always like to try new things so I plan on trying out some of the suggestions. How hard is it to eat with your opposite hand, for instance? I especially like this list because it references the studies done that validate most of the recommendations. Here they are:

1. Grin yourself thin
To maintain a healthy weight, do something to make yourself smile. Scientists in Brazil say serotonin, the "happy hormone," reduces appetite, and higher levels of it make you more likely to burn fat.

2. Crack some nuts
In an Eastern Illinois University study, people who were given shelled (that is, naked) pistachios ate 211 calories' worth while those who had the in-shell variety (you crack 'em open) consumed only 125 calories in the same sitting.

3. Put a fork in it
Your non-dominant hand, that is. You'll be more mindful of what you're eating and probably end up consuming less. (Using chopsticks works, too, especially if you're not a pro.) Just have plenty of napkins on hand.

4. Use a cheat plate
Consider using a smaller plate like a 9 inch plate or salad plate to make the food you eat look bigger as well as limit the amount you can put on your plate. Going even further, there are portion/diet plates available that demarcate on the plate the foods that should go on it and in what amounts.

5. Add protein to your bison herd
Grill up a 3-ounce buffalo steak every now and then. It has only 148 calories and 4 grams of fat. Plus, the 26 grams of lean protein in that bison steak can keep you satisfied enough to decline dessert.

6. Be an early bird
Late risers not only eat more calories (almost 200 more at dinner and another 375 after 8 p.m.) but also eat more unhealthily than those who wake up around 8 a.m., according to a Northwestern University study.

7. Eat with a woman
Men consume 37 percent less when they eat with a wife or girlfriend than when they dine out with their buddies, according to researchers at the State University of New York at Buffalo.