We'll need a smaller plate...

This is probably pointing out the obvious to many of you, but in case you haven't read about it, swapping to smaller plates makes a big difference. Apparently 20-30 years ago we had much smaller dinner plates, and so put less on them. Well, I had to replace our crockery set recently (due to what I believe is called 'wastage' but in our house is more realistically called 'Oh b***er, I dropped another one') and I searched and searched until I found plates that were only 19.5 cm in diameter instead of the now common 25-26 cm. We replaced our entire motley collection, even the bowls, and hey presto, we did indeed find we ate less.

In fact, our food bill has gone down because I am cooking smaller quantities. One son has lost 4kg, I've lost 1kg, and husband is at least maintaining his weight, despite being almost permanently away on business trips.

Success!

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

It's amazing how such a simple change can make so much difference, Madeupname! Congratulations!

[Tiggerr]

You're quite right and congratulations to you and your family for those great figures.

Fortunately for me when I joined back in January and I read the NHS 12 week plan, I didn't just scan it as I normally would and that was one of the many great tips that it offers up.

If you haven't had a chance to read it yet, you'll find many other useful tips.

Onwards and downwards.

[VickyDLM 2 stone]

Congratulations! I'm glad the new plates are having such a positive effect.

Personally, I can't bear to give up my plates (they're hand-me-downs from a great aunt that I've always loved) so I've gone to setting my plate on the kitchen scale when I serve food so I can see exactly how much I've put on it!

[Tiggerr in reply to VickyDLM]

Actually do/did both. Back to normal plates nowadays but the psychology of the smaller plate helped (or so I believe) at the time. i still weigh most stuff, like you say, by zeroing out the plate first.

[Hidden in reply to Tiggerr]

It would be interesting to know what you consider 'normal plates'? We are using plates that used to be considered 'normal' before the manufacturers and restaurants started upsizing us so I think we're now using normal, not large. What made you decide to swap back?

[Tiggerr in reply to Hidden]

For me now, normal is just a plate that isn't a side plate. The cupboard is full of plates of different sizes, so it's whatever's to hand.

I moved back to them after reaching my maintain weight. 6 months of measuring and being able to visualise what 'makes sense'. Doesn't mean I do the right thing all the time

[Hidden]

That's also a neat idea.

[Ceals]

Brilliant, well done, such a good idea.

[Active_43]

There is also a trend to eat from bowls these days. When you tip a full bowl out onto even a large dinner plate it overflows!!

My husband's family are all quite large. I'm sure a lot of it is down to how normalised it is for the use of huge, piled high plates at every meal.

On a positive though. Big plates means more room for lovely fresh veg! 👌

[kiwikyd-nz]

I've been thinking about changing our plates also. At the moment we have big squarish plates, which I know I put too much food on. Hubby has even said recently that I tend to serve up more than he can eat.

I might check out the op-shops for a couple of plates and give it a try before forking out for a whole new set.

I like the double bonus of weight loss and reduced grocery bill

Success indeed