Clearing your plate after you're full...

ani_terzyan · July 2015

One of my main struggles during this weight loss journey has been putting my fork down when I've had enough to eat. It's really difficult for me to leave food on my plate even when I'm WAY past the point of being full. I know it's because of a combination of two things - growing up with the idea that we always had to clear our plates (not letting food go to waste) and the fact that I always just want to eat as much as possible, my brain is never satisfied even when my belly is painfully full. I'm really not sure how to stop - any tips, tricks or advice is greatly appreciated, thanks!

DeguelloTex · July 2015

Put down the fork?

Mr_Knight · July 2015

Put less on your plate.

slaite1 · July 2015

Mr_Knight wrote: »

Put less on your plate.

Yup

spatulamom · July 2015

Lots and lots of food storage containers. If you're full, put it away.

My fridge looks like a Tupperware graveyard most of the time.

Kalikel · July 2015

I always eat it all because it's all accounted for with the calories. Interested in hearing how other have beaten the "must eat it all" thing, too.

stevesample76 · July 2015

Use a smaller plate when eating at home. If you're out to eat, ask for a to go box when you get your meal and put half of it in there before you start eating.

We are very conscious with our children not to force them to "clean their plate" or eat all their meal before getting down from the table.

soapsandropes · July 2015

Seconding all of the good advice above. Use a smaller plate. Portion out food, eat it and then sit for a little while to let the physical signals get to your brain. You can always save leftovers for the next day. You are in charge of your brain.

CSARdiver · July 2015

I have the same issue growing up in a German family where we were not allowed to leave the table until our plate was clean. If I eat at home I put smaller portions on the plate and get up for seconds. We leave the serving dishes on the counter and get up for seconds. If we're eating out I slow down and savor my food - and have no issues with doggie bags and leftovers. We also talk more at the dinner table, so its more of a social event.

lemurcat12 · July 2015

Yes, like others said, control what you put on your plate. Makes it a lot easier for me.

At a restaurant I decide before I start eating what an appropriate percentage is to eat and then I stick to it.

strong_curves · July 2015

I clean my plate every night... but I also weigh/measure everything that goes on my plate.

CompM · July 2015

Sometimes having a small glass of very cold water before a meal works to help curb some of my appetite. A bonus is that it helps keep you hydrated.

DeguelloTex · July 2015

strong_curves wrote: »

I clean my plate every night... but I also weigh/measure everything that goes on my plate.

Yes, this. I am not leaving an iota of s'mores behind.

Need2Exerc1se · July 2015

I was also raised to always clear my plate. One of the great things about being an adult, is being able to make my own rules. If I don't want it, I compost it, feed it to the chickens, or toss it in the trash bin.

shrinkingletters · July 2015

We ditched the dinner plates and just eat off salad plates at my house. Whatever fits, I eats, and I don't get up for seconds.

SezxyStef · July 2015

strong_curves wrote: »

I clean my plate every night... but I also weigh/measure everything that goes on my plate.

Yup this...

growing up tho it was a thing at my house...clean your plate there are kids starving.

As I became a parent I called it "clean plate police"...it get's ingrained in us..that's for sure.

I do clean my plate even now but as mentioned it's weighed and fits in my daily allowance.

dubird · July 2015

That's still one of my big hangups, especially in restaurants!! I actually don't like most reheated leftovers, so I always feel bad when I can't finish a meal. At home, I can put just what I want and I'm fine, but I always feel bad for wasting food in restaurants. What I usually do is eat the protein first, since that's most of what you pay for, and eat what I can of the rest. Not the most balanced of ways to eat, but I feel less guilty that way. Plus, you can always ask them for a half portion. You'll probably still have to pay full price, but if they can give you less food for a smaller portion, then it's very helpful!

gypsyish · July 2015

I have to pre portion everything on my plate or I will overeat every time. But then it's okay that I finish my plate. The problem comes when my boyfriend doesn't finish his plate and I get the urge to start eating off of it. Instead everything goes into the fridge for the next day's lunch.

DeguelloTex · July 2015

SezxyStef wrote: »

strong_curves wrote: »

I clean my plate every night... but I also weigh/measure everything that goes on my plate.

Yup this...

growing up tho it was a thing at my house...clean your plate there are kids starving.

Then there was the night I said, "Well, send them this stuff, then."

Lounmoun · July 2015

If it happens a lot to you then just get in the habit of putting less on your plate to begin with. Do not take more food. If you have measured and weighed food and are putting the proper portion on your plate for your calorie goal it would not matter if you cleaned your plate.
Fill your plate with lower calorie foods like vegetables so you can eat more without adding a lot of calories.
Make sure you are getting enough protein, fats and fiber to help you feel satisfied.
Drink more water.
Make or order less food so you can not overeat so much.
Put the food away immediately. Get away from the table and kitchen.
Reason with yourself. You know you have eaten enough calories. You are not really hungry if your calorie needs are being met. This is not your only opportunity to eat all day/week most likely. Drink water and wait 20 minutes to an hour before eating more.

AyeReady761 · July 2015

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ani_terzyan wrote: »

One of my main struggles during this weight loss journey has been putting my fork down when I've had enough to eat. It's really difficult for me to leave food on my plate even when I'm WAY past the point of being full. I know it's because of a combination of two things - growing up with the idea that we always had to clear our plates (not letting food go to waste) and the fact that I always just want to eat as much as possible, my brain is never satisfied even when my belly is painfully full. I'm really not sure how to stop - any tips, tricks or advice is greatly appreciated, thanks!

Put it in a pizza box n post it to me. Lol

serenity1097 · July 2015

I switched to a smaller plate & weigh/measure my portions so that I am able to clean my plate. As kids we were sent to bed if we didn't finish our meal so it has been a struggle for me as well.

Homemaker57 · July 2015

You need to be weighing your portions anyway if you expect to log your food with any accuracy. So weigh it, log it, then eat it.

From a mental aspect it helps me to change the way I think. Like this...

"Don't waste food" - - - "I already purchased the food either way and that won't change. Now will I use the food to get more healthy or less healthy?"

Lasmartchika · July 2015

Put less food on your plate... but what I've always done since I was a little kid, whatever leftovers I had on my plate, I'd put away in the fridge and eat it the next day. Although, it's been quite a while that I've had leftovers since I learned to put less on my plate.

MamaBirdBoss · July 2015

Try to UNDERestimate what you're going to eat.

My husband will eat off my plate if there's any left (to the point of being sick), so I put only small amounts on and almost never have leftovers.

LeslieB042812 · July 2015

I agree with what everyone else has said, but wanted to share the epiphany that got me over the urge to "clean my plate".

Surprisingly enough, it was a small quip in a reader's digest I read in a waiting room: "Better to let it go to waste, than to waist."

For some reason, this hit me because I realized that either way I'm throwing the food out because my body doesn't need it and will only store it as fat (which I certainly don't need more of!). Better to just throw it directly into the garbage than to throw it out in my body.

Your body is not a garbage can--it's okay to throw garbage in the garbage rather than into your body!

SergeantSausage · July 2015

Gska17 · July 2015

I too use a small plate like others have suggested. The entire portion on my plate it weighed & logged. If I can't finish it (happens sometimes) I'll put it away for later.

Bshmerlie · July 2015

I portion and weigh out my foods before I eat so there's really no reason not to finish it. Even when I go to a movie I split up my portion of the popcorn before I sit down and start munching. I do the same think when I go out to eat. I prelog most of my food. If I go to a BBQ or party where its an all you can eat type of thing I make a plate of exactly how many calories I'm looking to eat at that event and don't put any more food on my plate. I eat that and I'm done. If I know I'm gonna have a 1000 calorie burrito for lunch I even plan those calories into my meal plan for the day by having a late lunch around 2pm and then skipping dinner. There is no need to waste food. Either plan for those exact amount of calories or put the left overs in a tupperware before you start eating. That way you're not tempted to eat extra calories than what you planned for.

velveteen7845 · July 2015

Like others have said, I plan what I am going to eat and I weigh my food before eating and then I know that I need to finish everything on my plate to avoid being under my calorie goal.