|
Moms: Common Reasons You May be Packing on Pounds
Special to The Truth
A pizza crust here, a
chicken nugget there. Can eating leftovers off your child’s
plate really add up? The answer is yes. Eighty-one percent
of moms with kids under 18 admit to eating off their kids’
plates before, during or after a meal. What’s more, one in
three say they eat less healthfully now than they did before
they became a parent, according to a new survey conducted on
behalf of Nutrisystem by Harris Poll.
Some of the top foods moms
are guilty of eating off their kids’ plates are chicken
nuggets, pizza crust, French fries, potato chips, mac and
cheese, pancakes and cupcakes.
“While those few bites may
seem inconsequential, the extra calories can really add up
over time, and may be detrimental to weight maintenance and
weight loss efforts,” says Courtney McCormick, corporate
dietitian at Nutrisystem.
On average, eating those
leftovers on your child’s plate once a day for one week can
add up to more than 400 additional calories. Nibbling at
that rate equals nearly six pounds per year!
To help moms make
healthier choices, McCormick is offering the following tips.
• Eat mindfully. Be aware
of just how much food you’re picking from your child’s
plate. Include this food in your daily calorie count and
rethink your eating throughout the rest of the day. Consider
forgoing a snack or eating less at a meal.
• Reassess your child’s
portions. If your child consistently has leftovers, reassess
portions. Look at your child’s hands for guidance -- protein
such as meat, fish and chicken should be the size of their
palm; fruits and veggies should be the size of two palms;
healthy fats like cheese, nut butters and avocado should be
the size of their thumb (from knuckle to tip); and pasta,
rice and other grains should be the size of their fist.
• Be picky. If you do find
yourself grabbing leftovers, go for the less caloric
choices. For example, opt for the blueberries and carrots
instead of the chicken nuggets.
• Save it for later. If
you feel the urge to eat leftovers because you can’t stand
to see food get wasted, then save your child’s leftovers and
serve it to them later as a snack or meal.
• Eat while they eat. If
you’re picking at your child’s plate because you’re hungry,
then try to have your own healthful snack or meal to eat
while your child is eating. Make sure you choose items for
your diet rather than just select the same foods your child
is eating.
More wellness tips can be
found on Nutrisystem’s blog “The Leaf,” at
leaf.nutrisystem.com.
Parenthood doesn’t
necessarily need to translate to weight gain. With a few
smart strategies, you can keep your calorie needs in balance
and your weight in-check.
|
