Well&Good 2002, Issue 4

Easy ways to eliminate useless calories

1. Inventory your pantry. Eliminate the foods that were purchased on the spur of the moment, or when you weren't looking. Take temptation away from the hungry hunters at your house.
2. Provide your family with healthy snack alternatives including fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
3. Involve the family. Have each family member keep a food diary for a week. They may be surprised how fast a snack here and a snack there adds up.
4. Don't forget a shopping list when you go to the grocery store. Without a list, you're more tempted to make "urge" decisions. And you've already cleaned those items from your pantry.
5. Turn off the television during meals. Make it a time of family discussion and togetherness. You'll pay more attention to what you're eating and enjoy it more.
6. If your family insists on chips -- buy them a bag. But only one bag per month. When it's gone, it's gone until the next month's purchase.
7. Understand where the fat in your family's diet comes from. Remember, only 30 percent of daily calories should come from fat.
8. Don't expect immediate results. Family food habits are hard to change.
9. Don't quit.
10. Reward your family when they have reached some pre-arranged marker. But don't let the celebration last forever. Return the family to its new dietary habits.

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