Plan On Seconds: It’s The Solution

Overconsumption begins at the plate. This is because the amount you feel hungry for over-estimates the body’s actual need.

A common motherly phrase is that “Your eyes are bigger than your stomach”. And like most bits of motherly wisdom, this is true! And the sciency way to say this is that “Your psychology overestimates your physiology” (how much you feel you need is greater than your body’s caloric requirements).

So how do we fix this little problem and still eat enough at the family meal so that mama doesn’t think that we are A) starving to death, or B) hate her food, lol??

A very simple strategy to counter this over-estimate is to plan on seconds. Although this sounds wrong, its actually a great strategy to control the over-consumption that starts at the plate.

Here’s how it goes:

• When you plate your food, put an amount on that you feel like is about just a bit less than you are hungry for.
• By serving an amount that is just a bit less than your overly inflated expectations, you end up with the right amount for your body’s needs!
• Make sure to take your time and enjoy the meal for at least 20 minutes.
• Then check in with your body. Are you still hungry? Do you need more? What you will find is that Planning on Seconds with this method actually prevents you from over-consumption!