If you had to suggest just ONE healthy eating habit, what would it be?

[InMyGetawayCar]

Dreading this lockdown. I am in such a bad cycle of losing weight in summer, and putting it all back on through toast in the winter 😫

Cut the crap carbs

Don’t eat any meal or snack without some form or fruit or veg.

Use smaller plates and bowls. A serving of breakfast cereal shouldn't be served in a pasta bowl. Who knew? 🤷‍♀️

No refined sugar. Once the addiction is broken you won’t miss it, the weight will drop off, you won’t be bloated, and you will naturally crave good foods only when hungry.

This!

It only takes around 3-4 days and you will stop craving sugary food. You will lose about 3lbs instantly as you become so much less bloated. Just try it!

@EssentialHummus

16:8 / some other form of intermittent fasting.

This

Moderation.

@SqidgeBum - this made me chuckle! It's brilliant advice (that I need to take) but I'm literally just eating half a toffee cheesecake Was for pudding, after roast, later on. So I chuckled thinking 'haha, pudding BEFORE dinner, yay, that's ok then...'

I cannot eat my way through this lockdown as well

Portion control!! That includes treats ;) a couple of squares of chocolate are good, a whole bar less so

No refined sugar or refined carbs. Stick to this and the weight drops of so so fast

@InMyGetawayCar

I was cursed with a sweet tooth and carb cravings 😭

Me too OP! Intermittent fasting has changed my life - you select an 8 hr window in which to eat daily & fast the other 16. Been doing it a few weeks now & it seems to have stabilised my appetite & also stopped me having major sweet cravings. I’m a convert!

Keep snacks etc in a hard to reach cupboard, and when you feel like you have a craving, wait ten mins to see if you are genuinely hungry before eating.

Add one extra portion of veg to each meal, fill up on good stuff at mealtimes you are much less likely to snack an hour later in front of the TV.

Taste every mouthful (eat slowly)

This is in addition to eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re full as above - but the above is crucial to being able to do that so is my no.1 tip.

If you’re interested in learning more google ‘intuitive eating’...

Don't snack.

The evenings are definitely my downfall. I'm relatively good at portioning and do generally eat well.

I don't know if intermittent fasting would help or, as someone said, having one snack and looking forward to it. Hmmm.

Do you eat meals at the table or on the sofa? I used to eat more when we ate on the sofa and snack more as I think I was in a habit of sofa = eating. Now eat all meals and pudding at the table and rarely think about food on the sofa. Break habits like this!

I'd suggest avoiding mindless eating (she says stuffing cold McD's chips into her mouth from DC2's leftover Happy Meal)

No snacks!

A pint glass of water with every meal

No sugar or as little sugar as you can manage. Has made a huge difference to both my weight and mood.

Slow down.

Sit down to eat. Smell the food, feel the warmth of the plate, notice what it looks like. Chew slowly, really savour the flavours and textures. Sip a drink with the food.

This applies both to substantial meals and to snacks.

Apart from simply being enjoyable, this allows your brain to keep up with your stomach and actually let you know when you are physically satisfied. So many of us are emotional eaters, and this way of eating also fulfils that need.

No snacking

I think I eat well apart from my regular snacking on sweet things

Small plates/bowls.

I bought a pile of them from Ikea and what looks great on those plates looked like a measly portion in my bigger crockery.

No refined carbs or sugar... sucrose, fructose, glucose, starch, grains, flour products etc. Instead eat full fat animal products, non-starchy vegetables and berries. No vegetable oils (with the exception of olive, coconut and avocado).

They're all good suggestions. It's doing them (forever) that's difficult.

Plan.

Planning means you aren't as likely to make bad choices.

For me no food is off limits. If it is I crave it.

If I have good meals & snacks planned, I'm less likely to reach for the share bag of crisps instead of lunch