One Half (Photo credit: K W Reinsch)

Portion Size – This may be the nutrition dilemma of the century!  Do we eat what we are served or do we eat what is the “right” portion?  Think about it – When was the last time you were served 1 cup of pasta?  Didn’t the pasta cover your entire plate?  How about a steak?  About the smallest portion you can order is the petite filet – and that is 5 ounces!

So at PNT we challenge you to Eat Half!!   When your food comes, take half and put it in a “people bag”. 

•  Spaghetti and meatballs – put half to go and eat the rest (or less!)

• Fried Shrimp with coleslaw – Eat half and save the rest!

• Personal pizza – eat half and take the rest for a snack!

The surprise is that you will feel full!!   Let us know what you have done to Eat Half!! 

Day 1 of the French cuisine – Location Cannes – French Riviera.  One of the best things about searching for food in France and perhaps many other European cities, is the posting of the menu.  You can see the food and the prices before you go in to order.  However, the best thing is the ability to stroll down tight and bumpy roads looking into small cafes and picking your favorite.  We found a small cafe – La Libera not too far from the sea.  The salad course was large and there was no sign of iceberg lettuce!  Just dark greens and arugula.  The main courses of delicious pastas were so tasty with medium portions complimented with a lovely vin rouge!    The important nutrition components:  we walked over a mile to and from the cafe, portions were larger on the salad and medium size for the entree, and there was no rush!  And for dessert – Pastis – a liquorice flavored drink which is an aperitif in France.   Good nutrition in France for Day 1 – YES!

A study by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that people who chewed each bite 40 times reduced how much they ate by  12%.  Plus, these super chewers enjoyed weight loss because of a reduction in the hormone that stimulates appetite! (source – AJCN, published online July 30, 2011).

Chew Chew Chew!!  In addition to the above, you will take more time with your meal so you are not rushing through and may even be able to savor the  flavor!

Thanks Mary Ellen Caldwell, RD, LD, CLT for that great factoid!

Call 972-238-1811 to set up an appointment with Mary Ellen Caldwell  or email: pntrd@pntrd.com