Why Livliga Works—It’s the Best Value for Our Money and Our Health

We all know it and struggle with it. Overeating is an everyday reality. We live in a super-sized world. Even worse, we have been programmed over our lifetime to believe that more is better and that the better deal is getting more for the money we pay, especially when it comes to food. “What makes those larger sizes even more troublesome is that they’re marketed and sold as bargains. When people learn to equate massive amounts of food with a good deal, it becomes an even more Herculean task to change their behavior,” says Diane Ty, Portion Balance Coalition Project Director from Georgetown University Business School in a recent Quartz article. Another problem is that the value we get for our money is equated with quantity, not quality…and it is killing us. More is not better when it comes to the consumption of food.

In reality, more is often given to us at the cost of quality. And of even greater concern is that we are programmed to eat what is in front of us. Huge portions amount to huge meals that add on pounds that ultimately affects our health. As New York University nutrition science professor Marion Nestle has put it, “larger portions encourage people not just to eat more, but to underestimate how much they’re eating. It’s as much a mental game as it is a mathematical one.”

As is becoming apparent, in order to change our behavior we will need to change our culture. More is not better when it comes to food. Amounts do matter. A portion is not the same as a serving size. Food corporations, restaurants, grocery stores convenience outlets and even our homes will need to right size their offerings so all of us can become aware of right sized amounts. Currently we have no idea what right-sized servings look like. Our only frame of reference is super-sized portions.

How do we get started? Where we have the most control…our homes. And there is no better time than today to begin. When you listen to the successful weight loss stories on TV or read them in a magazine what do all those individuals say? Every single one has changed their food environment. They swapped out healthier foods for the less healthy ones, they planned ahead, they measured what they ate and they changed how they spend their time, fitting in exercise and healthier activities. 

As most will agree, losing weight and living a healthy lifestyle long term is more a mental game than a physical one. We have to permanently change behaviors and live in an environment that supports us in that healthy lifestyle. We need to invest in ourselves and the tools we need to succeed long term. Livliga was created for just that purpose. 

Livliga created a system of right-sized tableware with psychology and measurement built in to help all of us serve up healthy meals in just right serving sizes. Not only have the dishes been right-sized but when you put the right amount of food in or on our dishes it appears plentiful so you can be satisfied at the end of the meal. This is important because we don’t want to feel deprived our denied because if we do we will end up eating more, right? So the psychology of the dishes is key. That is also why they are artist designed and use colors that calm us and make us feel better rather than the opposite, which is what a lot of restaurants do. That is why Livliga now has 3 patents and 3 national awards. We truly are unique and can make a difference in helping people live a healthy life long term. As we think about it, what is the best value we can receive in our lives? Our good health.  With good health we can pursue our dreams, live up to our responsibilities, and have the energy to give to those we love and care about, including ourselves.  Livliga is a means to help you achieve that best value of all…your good health. 

 

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Why Livliga Works—It's Eco-Friendly and BPA-Free

When we were ready to manufacture Livliga products we thought it was important to provide a product that in its very structure and material was healthy for people to use. It has never made sense to us at Livliga that people are asked to live healthier lives but the tools being provided to them are made of materials that do not promote health, quite the opposite, and in fact, are not eco-friendly or BPA-free.

Our dishware is made of porcelain. This is a material of the earth. It is important to point out that porcelain is a durable material that will wear well and last. The energy used to create our dinnerware is offset by the longevity of its use.  We use non-toxic colors that are both cadmium and lead free and exceed FDA standards. We certify each lot of our product every time we manufacture. We meet the highest standards.

Not only is our product made of health-supporting materials, it can also be used safely in a microwave and can be put in a dishwasher without worry of degradation, as can be seen with plastics. Because we are not made of plastic we are considered BPA-free. What is it about plastic that makes it harmful to our health? Here is what Harvard Medical School says, “Studies have found that certain chemicals in plastic can leach out of the plastic and into the food and beverages we eat. Some of these chemicals have been linked to health problems such as metabolic disorders (including obesity) and reduced fertility. This leaching can occur even faster and to a greater degree when plastic is exposed to heat. This means you might be getting an even higher dose of potentially harmful chemicals simply by microwaving your leftovers in a plastic container.” What is significant to point out here is that this statement encompasses all plastics, including those designated as BPA-free. Current studies are highlighting that all plastics leach, including BPA-free plastics. In a recent article in Live Science it was stated, “Worries over bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical commonly found in plastics, have led to a surge in BPA-free products. But now, a new study suggests that the chemicals replacing BPA may also be cause for concern. The study found that, among U.S. children, exposure to two common chemicals used in place of BPA — called bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF) — is linked with an increased risk of obesity. Both BPS and BPF are similar in structure to BPA and can be found in some types of plastic, canned goods and other products.” Not only have BPA-free plastics been linked to health issues for children, they have also been associated with health issues for men and women, including infertility. The only way to protect yourself from the effects of plastic is to avoid your exposure to them, especially when consuming food. Livliga helps you do just that.

The packaging we use for our dinnerware incorporates post consumer waste, and we also source from companies that have a reforest program as part of their renewable program.  All packaging is recyclable and we encourage recycling.

Bottom line: Livliga is all about living a healthy lifestyle. The tableware we make and the information we share is to support each of our customers in living life as their healthiest selves. Our eco-friendly and plastic-free products do just that.

Live well. Be well!

Download Our Free eBook:
The Science & Psychology Behind the Plate

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Why Livliga Works—It Makes Food Look Plentiful

We eat with our eyes, not our stomach. Remember the phrase, "Your eyes are bigger than your stomach?" It is true! In the super-sized world we live in our eyes are constantly being cued to overeat. Livliga’s VisualQs Philosophy is all about helping everyone experience right-sized servings as plentiful. It is science-based and artist designed to make it easy to serve up just right portions in a subtle way and also make those portions look plentiful.

Nineteenth century scientists Delboeuf and Ebbinghaus have shown us how visual illusion can be used for our benefit when it comes to seeing right-sized amounts of food as plentiful. Delboeuf, for instance, showed us that by putting a circle around a smaller circle we can make that inner, smaller circle look larger. That is why choosing a plate with a rim can help you serve up right-sized amounts of food and have it look plentiful. The Livliga plate is particularly useful because our plates have an extra wide rim that still looks in proportion to the overall right-sized “normal” looking plate.

Ebbinghaus showed us how smaller circles scrunched up close around a bigger circle compared to larger circles around the same sized inner circle, can make the inner circle look twice as big. This illusion is embedded into the Livliga dishes as the icons that also guide our serving sizes for the different food groups. Each circle has the effect of making the individual foods on the plate look plentiful so our eyes and mind perceive the food on our plate as enough, and therefore we can feel satisfied at the end of our meal.

Livliga is the answer to right-sized, mindful eating. There is no other product like this on the market. Our product is the only one that uses psychology to help you feel satisfied and perceive right-sized servings as plentiful. We are the patented mindful eating (some say—"portion control") dinnerware that supports you in living the healthy lifestyle you desire and deserve.

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Top 8 Blogs Focusing on Our Emotional Health and Weight Management

More and more we are recognizing that the key to our success in living a healthy lifestyle is addressing our emotional health as well as the classic attention grabbers of portion control and exercise. In fact, many professionals are now realizing we can’t make long term change without paying attention first to our mental health and the roots of our physical health challenges. To live healthfully our body and mind need to be on the same page.

Livliga’s mission is to help people live healthier lives. Our product is designed with science and psychology in order to support people on their healthy lifestyle journey. In fact, we have 3 patents, one of which is specifically based on the psychology of eating. We know how important it is to address the psychology of eating as well as the amount of food we eat. They go hand in hand.

We are so excited to announce that the next ebook we will be launching this fall will be in partnership with Connie Stapleton, Ph.D., who specializes in helping people live life fully, free from the mental and emotional shackles of constant thoughts (and guilt) related to food and weight. Look for more information on this much-needed ebook in October!

To provide inspiration and helpful tips in positive support of our emotional health and weight management here are our Top 8 Blogs Focusing on Our Emotional Health and Weight Management from our Live Vibrant Blog:

Live…Laugh...Love...Learn—finding your own “om”

De-stressing is hard for many of us to achieve. It is one of the cornerstones to living a healthy lifestyle. It is as equally important as eating right, building in exercise, getting the required sleep we need, and drinking enough water.

Nutrition For The Soul

Finding time to both prepare nutritious meals and also find time to nurture our souls seems nearly impossible. How do we find the time? Perhaps part of the secret is in not thinking of them as separate activities or as mutually exclusive.

The Secret to Avoiding Destructive Eating Habits at Restaurants

I have been in a long search to discover the secret to avoiding destructive eating habits at a restaurant. Recently my family has been eating more meals out in restaurants. I have found myself wanting to drift back to old, destructive habits. It is hard to break old habits. No one understands this better than I do. But it is possible.

5 Tips for Living a Life of Gratitude—for our Health and Happiness

Gratitude, in particular, has been shone to have a powerful effect on our outlook on life and our ability to manage the stresses and strains of our everyday lives in addition to the extraordinary circumstances of the holidays. The list of positive effects of gratitude is long. It includes improved heart health, reduced stress, improving our sleep, enhancing our relationships, fortifying our resilience, and boosting our self-esteem. It also helps us with our stick-to-itiveness, allowing us to keep to our exercise routine and other good healthy habits. It helps us with our overall sense of life satisfaction.

Seasonal Signs of Depression

People who find they have mild to severe depression in fall and winter, when the days grow shorter, may have seasonal affective disorder (SAD) — sometimes called the winter blues. Women, especially those in their twenties, are most susceptible to seasonal affective disorder, but it can affect men and people of all ages, including children and teens.

Being Thankful for a Healthier Lifestyle

I have been considered overweight most of my life. My mom put me on a diet in the 2nd grade! I have 3 children and a husband who have also faced their own weight issues. Our weight struggles challenged me to learn how to cook more healthfully.  One outgrowth of my journey to better health was starting a blog. Being thankful for a healthier lifestyle has been years in the making.

Starving Your Fears Is The Key To Change

I find I get motivation and inspiration wherever I roam on the internet. Recently I read a very truthful post from Kurt Smith that I wanted to share with you. Made me think about how I use food and make the same excuses. Fear can suffocate our motivation and dreams. Let's make this the year to feed our souls and starve our fears! Are you with me!?!

Impulse Eating—Grazing While fixing Meals

I have a lot of issues when it comes to eating. I have come to understand I am not alone in this reality. As I focus on my Year of Intention I have committed to unveiling my eating quirks to look at them, understand them better, be mindful of them and ultimately switch things up so I can continue to advance in my journey of an ever improving healthy lifestyle.

Our emotional health is so important but not always easy to address when we may have deep-rooted issues that have become embedded in the way we approach our food and eating. Fortunately, there are many professionals today who specialize in helping us with our relationship with food and our weight challenges. Check out the people and businesses we highlight on our Community Commitment page on our website or talk to your primary care doctor to ask for a referral.

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