Could your table manners make you fat?

We know that body weight is a complex issue. Weight gain can be a combination of a lot of things, but we rarely consider it’s a result of bad manners.

There is a right and a wrong way to hold forks and spoons. The right way slows us down, the wrong way makes it easy to shovel food into our mouths!

There is a right and a wrong way to hold forks and spoons. The right way slows us down, the wrong way makes it easy to shovel food into our mouths!

In many ways we’ve moved away from the mannerly behaviors that used to be observed by everybody except the most uncivilized. Manners dictated that we only ate at the table.

We ate thoughtfully because we ate our meals at the table. We chewed thoroughly, and with our mouths closed. We didn’t wash food down with huge glasses or containers of liquids which may contribute 100s of calories to our meals. We used our knives and forks and avoided picking up our food with our hands.

We used to observe table manners that helped us focus on our meals. Paying attention to what we're eating helps us get more pleasure with less food!

We used to observe table manners that helped us focus on our meals. Paying attention to what we’re eating helps us get more pleasure with less food!

 

These actions all have an important effect on how much food we eat. 

Eating meals at the table make each meal an event. Not an overeating event, but rather a part of our day that gives us time to pause and really enjoy the food we’re eating. That is a highly effective way to ensure we feel satisfied at the end of each meal and that feeling of satisfaction – or absence of hunger – lasts longer.

Eating slower is a simple and practical way of reducing the amount of food we eat without feeling deprived. The science is simple. We stop eating because there is no more food on our plate and/or we feel full. Putting more food on our plate than we need and eating it fast allows us to bypass the brain signal that tells us to stop. Slowing down can give our brains time to tell our stomachs they’re full.

Bypassing the knife and fork to eat pizza makes it easy to eat more pizza in a smaller amount of time and enjoying it less!

Bypassing the knife and fork to eat pizza makes it easy to eat more pizza in a smaller amount of time and enjoying it less!

Imagine, you could lose weight without avoiding your favorite foods just by watching your manners!

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  • Eat all (or at least most) meals at the table.
  • Chew your food thoroughly.
  • Sip water with your meals. 
  • Put your fork down between bites.
  • Do not eat with your hands. Always eat with a knife and fork.
  • Serve yourself smaller portions.
  • It is not rude to leave food on your plate. Stop when you’re full.

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PUT AWAY THE MOBILE DEVICES!

Manners can help you enjoy your food more, eat less of it at every meal, reduce your calories, and feel full longer.

 

 

 

 

Jackie Conn

About Jackie Conn

Jackie Conn is married and has four grown daughters and four grandchildren. She is a Weight Watchers success story. She's a weight loss expert with 25 years of experience guiding women and men to their weight-related goals. Her articles on weight management have been published in health, family and women's magazines. She has been a regular guest on Channel 5 WABI news, FOX network morning program Good Day Maine and 207 on WCSH.