Control calorie intake

The research suggests that people inadvertently consume more calories when faced with larger portions. Practitioners should counsel their patients and clients on how to avoid this trap. Here are some suggestions:

1. Portion control when eating in. To minimize the temptation of second and third helpings when eating at home, people should serve reasonable portions on individual plates, instead of putting the serving dishes on the table.  Keeping the excess food out of reach may discourage inadvertent overeating.
2. Portion control in front of the TV.  When eating or snacking in front of the TV, encourage people to put a reasonable amount of food into a bowl or container, and leave the rest of the package in the kitchen.  It's easy to overeat when a person's attention is focused on something else.
3. Controlling hunger between meals. Encourage your patients or clients to eat a snack, like a piece of fruit or small salad, if they feel hungry between meals to avoid overeating during the meal.

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