Prevent Holiday Overeating: Practice Overloading Your Plate

Will your Thanksgiving dinner plate look like this?  Chances are, yes.  Now the tough question: will you eat it all, or leave some behind (or go for seconds)?  Since childhood, you've been taught to clean your plate--a habit that can be particularly damaging during holiday feasts.  The problem arises because you take a standard portion of a dozen side dishes and desserts, as opposed to the usual 2 or 3 sides you take for regular dinners.

If taking large portions is a vice for you, you can practice this simple technique to put an end to the clean your plate guilt.  At home, overload your plate with more food than you know you will eat, and only eat half.  This exercise is harder than you may think, because you're pre-programmed to eat what's in front of you, but you have to practice not eating everything that's in front of you.  Try this tonight and tomorrow night, and your ability to not eat 2 helpings of that sweet potato casserole will be much easier.