Considerations for a good diet

[Guest guest]

Since weight seems to be a popular topic on these sites, I thought

I'd post an article which I saw on Sympatico today. It's from Weight

Watchers Canada.

Forget Fast Food - Think Slow Love

13/04/2005 3:39:15 PM

Once upon a time there was no such thing as fast food. Hard to

imagine isn't it? To think we once had to make a meal from scratch,

buy and prepare the ingredients and even create recipes - all

without a microwave!

There was even a time when we all had to sit down at a table in a

cafe and wait to be served, taking time to enjoy anything from a

snack to a grand three course meal - without standing in line at a

counter and being served high fat fried food in less than 90 seconds.

Fast Forward

In these time-starved days we are now programmed to microwave high

fat/salt/additive meals in seconds and have it ready before we've

even set the table. We can open a packet and pour the contents into

our mouths without even thinking about what we are doing, and pour

hot water over dried ingredients and eat the stuff straight from the

plastic pots if we want.

We can pick up snacks and sandwiches everywhere - from gas stations

to street kiosks - and eat them while walking along or driving in

the car. Some of us are so busy we eat breakfast on the run, grab

lunch between paperwork at our desks and scoff evening meals

standing up in the kitchen.

Yet all these time saving plans rarely afford us real quality time.

Eating with the family, cooking a meal from scratch using fresh,

healthy ingredients, taking time away from our workplaces to go for

a walk and eat al fresco perhaps, should be what healthy living is

about.

On the Hoof

Because food is readily available and designed to be consumed so

quickly we are encouraged to graze indiscriminately with little

thought to what and how we are eating. How many times have you come

home hungry as a wolf, guzzling all those instant snacks and

processed meals that cross your path, such is your hurry to fill the

growling void?

This is truly when your best laid diet plans go awry. When we scoff

food quickly we are out of control and often eat more food than we

need to as we gorge to satiate our appetites. We all know that

feeling of feeling stuffed and guilty after a binge, don't we?

Always try to consider your meal plans in advance. It might mean

that you have to have your groceries delivered and your fridge

stocked with plenty of fresh vegetables and ingredients to make

delicious dishes.

If you are crippled with hunger between meals then have bowls of

fresh crudités in the fridge on hand to nibble as you cook.

Start getting into the habit of setting the table nicely and sitting

down properly for a meal. When your plate is perched on your lap and

your attention is on the television you can't fully enjoy the food

you are consuming.

We all like to relish what we eat and by chewing more slowly you

give the body time to digest food more effectively, you will feel

more satisfied then if you scoffed down your meal, and you will even

need less to feel full. When you take things slowly you are in

control and sticking to your weight loss plan in a sensible and

enjoyable way.

Here is a quick checklist to help you get the most out of your meals

and reach your weight loss goals with ease:

[1] Work out why you do eat so fast. Is it that you let yourself get

too hungry between meals? Look up healthy snacks to fill the gaps

and decide to go more slowly

[2] Plan meals and shopping ahead

[3] Try to sit before your meal in silence for a few seconds and

check you are in control

[4] Chew slowly to help digestion and to feel full up without eating

more

[5] Make each meal last 20 minutes, savour each mouthful and put

your cutlery down between mouthfuls

[6] Take time to prepare meal with fresh ingredients. Convenience

foods are often full of extra salt, fat and additives, which could

be sabotaging your diet