Fitness Food and You

I’ve written numerous blogs about how the plates and cups we use really make a huge difference in how much we eat. If you fill up a small bowl with ½ cup of frozen yogurt, you will feel satisfied when you’re done. And yet that same ½-cup portion, in a much larger bowl, just doesn’t do the trick!

Companies in the food industry know this and they do their best to fool us.

Take a look at this: While these 2 lines are the same length, most of us think that the vertical line is longer. Our brains somehow understand that taller is more.

Let’s apply this to food and use an example: movie popcorn. In most movie theaters, if you place a medium bucket of popcorn next to a large bucket you will notice that they’re roughly the same height. The large bucket might hold 50% more popcorn, but this increase is done by expanding the width of the bucket. This way, our brain can’t obviously see the extra volume.

If the large bucket were re-designed having the same width but 50% taller, we would immediately understand how much more the larger bucket would hold. And then maybe, we would think, “Gee, I’ll stick to the medium—that’s going to be too much.”

Here are some visual examples: This first picture shows 2 buckets of popcorn–1 medium, 1 large. Since they’re the same height, we can’t really see the extra volume in the large. Now look at this picture—these 2 containers are vertically different and we can immediately see the size difference. 

So pay attention to this optical illusion when eating. Once you start focusing, you’ll notice that these “tricks” are everywhere!

We all know that fruit and vegetables are good for us so there is no need to go on and on about all the vitamins, minerals and fiber that they contain. Blah blah blah.

However, I do have to say one quick thing about them: fruits and vegetables contain a hint of magic: The magic is phytochemicals. It’s the phytochemicals that are responsible for adding color to fruits and vegetables–they make the rainbow.

Some quick facts about phytochemicals:

• Phytochemicals are found in plant-based foods
• There are thousands of phytochemicals but only a small number of them have been studied (examples: carotenoids, flavonoids, lycopene)
  
• Phytochemicals have a hormone effect or an antioxidant effect
• Studies have shown that phytochemicals have biological activity that lead to health benefits. This includes the prevention of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.
• Phytochemicals are also thought to block the action of carcinogens.

So eat those fruits and veggies not just for the vitamins, minerals and fiber…………eat them for the magic!

Imagine that nutritional counseling is a giant tree. I’m seeing a trend of 3  major “branches” off of this tree.

1. The first branch is the easiest to manage: IGNORANCE. People seek nutritional information simply because they don’t have the correct information. It could be learning about fiber sources, the best way to become a vegetarian, or managing a disease linked to nutrition. (i.e., diabetes or celiac disease). Once the person gets the necessary information, they’re good to go!

2. The second branch is a bit more complicated: PLANNING. Here, the client understands what needs to be done, but can’t seem to execute the plan. It’s impossible to “wing” good nutrition. You have to plan, be organized and stay on top of things—otherwise it all goes out the window. There are so many strategies to aid in planning from food shopping for specific items (as basic staples)  to meal planning. If someone can stay consistent with the planning (it takes a lot of work), then they’re good to go.

3. The third branch is very complicated: PSYCHOLOGICAL. This branch involves clients who have been chronic dieters and who have the “diet mentality”. (I was good today/I was bad today/I blew it so I might as well eat everything in sight and start tomorrow/ I can’t eat carbs–they’re bad, etc) It also involves people who have/had eating disorders, and people who consistently eat for other reasons other than hunger—boredom, stress, anxiety, etc. This involves “re-booting”  the way the client thinks about food and a lot of behavior modification. In extreme cases, the client might need a therapist, who works closely with the nutritionist.

Think about this if you’re contemplating seeing a nutritionist. Knowing what “branch” you are, can be extremely helpful in swiftly addressing the heart of your specific issue.