Small Plate Theory

Roverdave

I tried something different today. I had my lunch: grilled salmon & veggies on a smaller plate. Anyone else heard of this theory or is it a rumor? I don't know if I feel like I had more becuase the portion sizes looked larger because they are on a smaller plate or if I have become accustomed to smaller serving sizes. Any thoughts MFPer's? Have a great Tuesday!

mags080611

I can say that its true!! Using a smaller plate plays a mind game with your brain and makes you think your eating more than you actually are. Ive done the same thing and I end up cutting my foods in half that way

sandradaisy

I do it every night with dinner and yes its prob all in our minds, but after a while I am sure that we are actually getting used to eating smaller portions. I love the smaller plate

kateroot

I've done it, and it's been really helpful for me. It's an easy way to remind yourself what portion sizes actually look like. It's so easy to go overboard when you pile food on a big dinner plate.

kpittman0612

I have done this and it does work! It's a mind trick but hey, whatever works!!!

rsdgirl

i have done this for a year and a half and still do it and LOVE it good luck

hazev74

def true. if i have a huge portion then id just keep eating! ive also heard of the small fork theory! ....http://web.orange.co.uk/article/news/lord_sugar_reveals_diet_secrets_in_new_book

SgtSwampFox

Smaller plates... check. Not going back for 2nd's and 3rd's... not so much. :-)

laurarpa

whole family does this everyday. We always use the salad plate for dinner. Added benefit - can fit more in the dishwasher

Laces_0ut

i just use a food scale to weigh everything. then i know exactly what i am eating.

magoch

Dr. Oz has some of the research citations on this in his book - You: On a Diet. I switched and it really does make a difference. The same amount of food on a small plate (me) and a large plate (hubby) feels very different. My husband has switched now too.

KANGOOJUMPS

YES!@! THIS WORKS!

sobriquet84

If you're counting cals and measuring to begin with, I don't really find a reason to use a small plate other than, I guess, to give yourself the illusion that you're eating more if you're just starting out.

When you're used to eating larger portions, your stomach is physically stretched. After about a week of eating smaller portions, your stomach literally shrinks. That's why you're usually so hungry your first week of dieting, and even why you're STARVING the morning after Thanksgiving. After your stomach goes back down to its natural size though, smaller portions is what satisfies you, and the size of your plate becomes a moot point.

rbn_held

I use a smaller plate every night for dinner (and no seconds) or your kinda defeating the point.

XXXMinnieXXX

Bump

seebeachrun

I use it too. Amazingly I am usually full after I eat what's on my plate. Plus, it's nice to see a full plate rather than a huge one with a single chicken breast and single cup of broccoli on it; the smaller portions always look so lonely on the big plates and my mom always served a slice of buttered bread with dinner so I have to fight the urge to fill up the plate.

hpsnickers1

I wouldn't be able to fit my 8oz steak on a small plate.

The only time I wake up starving is when I binge on carbs at night. It creates a blood sugar crash while I sleep and I wake up immediately wanting carbs.

I'm usually not hungry until around 11am or later. And I prefer just a couple of nice large meals.

amuhlou

This made a HUGE difference for cereal consumption when we were starting out. We got ice cream/cereal bowls which are much smaller than the 'soup' bowls that dinner sets come with.

I laugh every time I see cereal commercials because what they show on TV is probably 2-3 servings worth of cereal and a ton of milk.

We pretty much weigh portions nowadays though, so the plate size doesn't matter as much.

vaman

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nerdyandilikeit

I trick my brain at every opportunity. I especially use the smaller plate method, and the mini versions of chocolates and cookies. My brain is so gullible.

k8blujay2

It does work.... Also apparently using blue plates/bowls also makes your mind think you are eating more than you are.

grinch031

I'm not a believer.

My own experience is that the quality and quantity of the food I eat in a given meal has a direct effect on my eating habits over the next couple of hours. So in other words my body compensates to get what it wants. So by eating small portions, I'm only delaying the inevitable.

k8blujay2

This made a HUGE difference for cereal consumption when we were starting out. We got ice cream/cereal bowls which are much smaller than the 'soup' bowls that dinner sets come with.

I laugh every time I see cereal commercials because what they show on TV is probably 2-3 servings worth of cereal and a ton of milk.

We pretty much weigh portions nowadays though, so the plate size doesn't matter as much.

Because we don't have cereal bowls, I always use coffee mugs (like the ones that come with the plate sets) that way I'm not tempted to pile it on as I would in a soup bowl.

Sl1ghtly

I think it works. All those trips walking to the kitchen for more gravy burns a lot of calories.

JNick77

If it works for you, do it until it doesn't work anymore.

nerdyandilikeit

I'm not a believer.

My own experience is that the quality and quantity of the food I eat in a given meal has a direct effect on my eating habits over the next couple of hours. So in other words my body compensates to get what it wants. So by eating small portions, I'm only delaying the inevitable.

I don't eat smaller portions necessarily. I just shove the same amount of food on a smaller plate, and then it looks like more food. I'm not tempted as often to find something else because it looks like a nice sized plate of food.

AlayshaJ

Doesnt work for me. Nothing can fool my mind when it comes to how much I am eating. I know my stomach all too well!

taunto

It is true that psychologically you think you're having a big serving even with a small plate.

Did you knew that the color red, yellow, orange and basically most bright colors make you feel more hungry too? Try more darker colors (like dark blue) as your plate and see if that helps you too. Notice that many fast food chains use the bright colors (McD's, KFC)

SalishSea

I love using a small plate. Especially for dinner. I am still eating a pre-set amount of calories for dinner the small plate just helps me to "see" a full plate. It helps me.

I also love to use a very pretty fancy small plate. It makes my dinner feel special. Like I am doing a favor for myself.

grinch031

I think it works. All those trips walking to the kitchen for more gravy burns a lot of calories.

Yeah perhaps there is a slight metabolic advantage to having to refill your small plate multiple times.

MrsTattie

Yes! Works for me. The first night you think you aren't full. Stand up....walk away! Have some water and allow yourself 15 minutes. If you still feel hungry after that, by all means eat more. The brain has a time-lag of knowing when your stomach is full of around 10 - 15 mins. Smaller plate does NOT mean pile it high! If in doubt, take a pic of your regular plate and then the following time, use the same proportions of each thing so the plate looks like a mini-version of the original (eg meat, veg, rice)

My problem has been portion control and although I have been eating mainly healthy, it was portion size that had been adding the pounds. I now eat about two-thirds of what I would have eaten (of the same thing) and have increased exercise and have been steadily loosing just over a pound a week. I am not counting calories! (ooops bad Mfp-er here!!)

Good luck!