Control their environment

Different aspects of the environment may act as cues to consume more food than people realize. It is important that people understand how their surroundings can influence their calorie intake so they can make simply changes within their environments.

1. Package size may influence consumption. For some reason, the larger the package, the more people consume from it without realizing it. To minimize this effect, encourage patients or clients to
2. Divide up the contents of one large package into several smaller containers to help avoid over­consumption.
3. Don't eat straight from the package.  Instead, serve a reasonable portion in a bowl or container. 
4. Out of sight, out of mind. People tend to consume more when they have easy access to food. Advise patients or clients to make their home a "portion friendly zone."
5. Get rid of the candy dish, or better yet, replace it with a fruit bowl.
6. Place especially tempting foods, like cookies, chips, or ice cream, out of immediate eyesight, like on a high shelf or at the back of the freezer.  Move the healthy fare to the front at eye level.
7. When buying in bulk, store the excess in a place that's not convenient to get to, such as in a garage or basement.

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