Corrective Lifestyles Telehealth Weight Loss Program

Why do you clean your plate?

Food does not mean the same to everyone. For some people it is a form of socializing, a cultural celebration, a means of coping with sadness, disappointment, frustrations and joy. To others food is a reminder of a time when food was scarce and hunger was common. The concept of a clean plate has many roots; one of which is the lack of food after world war II.

After World War II Harry Truman implored Americans to curb waste in order to help send food to people who were starving in Europe. Children were taught to clean their plates in an effort not to waste food.

A few days ago I was talking to a client who had difficulty keeping lost weight off. After engaging with her during a coaching session, she told me that as a young child, she, her brother and mom had to take turns eating. There was not enough food to allow three of them to eat at the same meal. If she had lunch, her brother would have supper. She said, "it breaks my heart to see food waste. I can't put food in the gabage." As a child, I remembered being told time and time again how fortunate I was to have food to eat, when so many children were going hungry. This was my mother's way of saying that I should eat everything on my plate.

Food can be satisfying and addictive. This makes it tempting to clean our plate.

Recognizing that cleaning your plate is hindering your weight loss goals is the first step in curbing this habit. Slowing down, learning to enjoy foods that are satisfying, and recognizing when one is full are essential to weight loss and weight regain prevention. If eating everything on your plate was drilled into you as a kid, it is natural to feel guilty about throwing food away.

No matter the reason for your clean plate, if you are trying to lose weight or prevent weight gain implementing the following practices will be helpful.

• You can down-size your plate.

• Divide the food on your plate and place it into two or more containers for future use.

• Remove the extra food from your plate before you begin eating.

• When eating out It is a good habit to order a small plate.

• Share a meal with a friend or ask for a doggy bag.

• Place the extra food in the take-home container before you start eating.

The same thing can be done when you visit friends and family for lunch or dinner. Before long cleaning your plate will become a thing of the past.