Healthy Eating: Portion Control and Sweet Tricks for a Happier, Healthier You

Eating healthy is important for our bodies and our minds. We all want to feel and look good, but sometimes it can be hard to resist all the delicious food that's around us. Especially sweets! Yum, right? But did you know that too much sugar can be bad for us?

That's where portion control comes in. Portion control means eating just the right amount of food, not too much and not too little. It's easy to overeat when we're not paying attention to what we're eating, like when we're watching TV or using our computers. But if we use smaller plates and bowls, it can help us eat less without feeling like we're missing out.

One trick that I try when I know I'm in a really snacky mood is seeing what foods I'm craving and then looking up online what they might mean. For example, when I'm craving popcorn or something really salty, I know that my body probably needs important minerals. So I will try to find something that fits all my requirements; taste, nutrition, and satisfaction/full feeling because I don't want to keep searching for something and adding empty calories to my body.

Let's talk about sweets. Who doesn't love a good dessert after a meal? I know I do, a nice fudgy chocolate brownie with some melted peanut butter on top. MmMmmm. But we don't want to overdo it on the sugar. It's not good for our bodies or our teeth. One way to satisfy our sweet tooth is to eat fruit. Fruit is naturally sweet and has important vitamins and minerals that our bodies need. Another option is to choose dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate. Dark chocolate has less sugar and more antioxidants, which are good for us! And when we're buying packaged foods, we should try to choose products with less added sugar. Excess sugar can lead to a variety of health problems.

When it comes to losing weight, portion control is key. I recently looked into the MyPlate app to see what portions I would need of each type of food group so I could lose weight in a safe way. Portioning is so important whether we're trying to lose, gain, or even maintain weight.

So, let's try and make a conscious effort to eat healthier and change our bad eating habits. By doing so, we can reduce the risk of chronic diseases and feel better overall. We don't have to give up the foods we love, but we can be mindful of how much we're eating and make healthier choices.

Photo by Brenda Godinez

Sources:

• Harvard School of Public Health. The Nutrition Source: Healthy Eating Plate & Healthy Eating Pyramid

• Mayo Clinic. Portion Control: Eating Less to Live Longer

• American Heart Association. Added Sugars