Did you catch Dr. Brian Wansink on the Today Show last week? Neither did I, darn it. Brian is one of the most creative scientists out there and he deals with one of the most profound problems out there: overeating. If you haven’t read his book, Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think, then run out and get it. It’s one of my favorites of the year.

If you need more convincing, then watch a cool eight-minute interview with Dr. Wansink.

Here is Dr Wansink’s approach in a sound bite. Each of us makes dozens of eating-related decisions each day, and the outcomes of these decisions are rarely determined by whether we are hungry. Most are determined by what we have in the house, where we keep it, how large our plates are, who we are with, and other non-hunger related influences.

If we manage the physical and social elements that influence our eating, then we will eat 100 to 200 fewer calories each day without even realizing it. Wansink calls this the “Mindless Margin.” This margin is the difference between gaining and losing weight.

Below are a few ideas for managing your eating during the Thanksgiving period. 

• When buying food, plan on at least half of the dishes being vegetable base.
• Reduce the number of choices people have. People have a need to try some of everything—even when they aren’t hungry.
• Go ahead and wear that tight-fitting pair of pants, and keep your belt cinched up. These are the cues that tell you when you’ve eaten enough.
• Don’t put serving dishes on the table. Keep them in the kitchen. This includes dishes of rolls. Out of sight is out of mind, making it more likely people will stop eating when they are full.
• Don’t put food within sight or within reach before or after the meal. Don’t make it convenient to eat while watching television. Try to confine all eating to the table.
• Don’t buss people’s plates. Let the evidence of their eating remain on their plates to remind them of what they’ve eaten.
• Throw away leftovers.

I’d love to hear other people’s hints. Tell us what you’ve tried that works My wife’s favorite? Skip the Thanksgiving meal altogether. Invite a group of like-minded friends and relatives to go skiing instead!

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Posted by David Maxfield on November 20, 2007 2:11:00 PM MST #