On Diets, Portions, and Bento
Jun. 23rd, 2007 12:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
neadodsThis is another one of those weekends where I'm totally behind on where I thought I'd be - let me put it this way, I'm only now checking mail and LJ, and by the time I've done so, all the Brits are going to be in squeeful meltdown.
I've been to Ikea for the first time in a year and a half (long-time readers will remember the Saga of The Wardrobe: the icing on the cake of how long, expensive, and angstful it was to get my hands on my version was seeing the discontinued floor model - intact and still in good shape - in the "As is" department for 1/4 of what I paid. *sigh*)
But what I want to talk about is food. The one time I really lost weight and kept it off, I did three things:
1) Walked 2 or 3 miles a day
2) Never denied myself the chance to eat anything but did eat by these rules:
- protein every meal, but meat once a day
- red meat once a week (ham didn't quite count)
- chocolate once a day and hopefully once every other day
3) Followed fairly strict portioning
The great thing about the bentos I bought (linked because I love them) is that they work naturally into portioning - without thinking about it. It's not "oh, I'm only allowed to eat x amount of stuff, so I'll measure it out;" I just fill the container. No trauma. No angst. No thought, really, just fill the container and you're done. And by the time you've eaten through all the containers, you're completely full... even if the largest ones were veg and fruit.
So why did I start talking about Ikea and segue into food? Because Ikea is selling a dish with a low bowl and wide brim - perfect for, say, spaghetti with a slice of garlic bread balanced on the edge - and it turns out that the dish holds 1.5 cups of material. Closer to 1.25 if you don't fill it right up to the brim. So now I'm seriously considering going back and getting more to replace some of the dishes in my cabinet. Because pairing those up with one of my 8 oz coffee cups is once again perfect portion control without thought. And by thinking in terms of "I'll fill x with this and y with that" I'm once again thinking in terms of a variety of food rather than "eh, I'm bored, I can make ham and cheese or chicken and rice. Again."
Dieting without effort. Now that's sweet!
I've been to Ikea for the first time in a year and a half (long-time readers will remember the Saga of The Wardrobe: the icing on the cake of how long, expensive, and angstful it was to get my hands on my version was seeing the discontinued floor model - intact and still in good shape - in the "As is" department for 1/4 of what I paid. *sigh*)
But what I want to talk about is food. The one time I really lost weight and kept it off, I did three things:
1) Walked 2 or 3 miles a day
2) Never denied myself the chance to eat anything but did eat by these rules:
- protein every meal, but meat once a day
- red meat once a week (ham didn't quite count)
- chocolate once a day and hopefully once every other day
3) Followed fairly strict portioning
The great thing about the bentos I bought (linked because I love them) is that they work naturally into portioning - without thinking about it. It's not "oh, I'm only allowed to eat x amount of stuff, so I'll measure it out;" I just fill the container. No trauma. No angst. No thought, really, just fill the container and you're done. And by the time you've eaten through all the containers, you're completely full... even if the largest ones were veg and fruit.
So why did I start talking about Ikea and segue into food? Because Ikea is selling a dish with a low bowl and wide brim - perfect for, say, spaghetti with a slice of garlic bread balanced on the edge - and it turns out that the dish holds 1.5 cups of material. Closer to 1.25 if you don't fill it right up to the brim. So now I'm seriously considering going back and getting more to replace some of the dishes in my cabinet. Because pairing those up with one of my 8 oz coffee cups is once again perfect portion control without thought. And by thinking in terms of "I'll fill x with this and y with that" I'm once again thinking in terms of a variety of food rather than "eh, I'm bored, I can make ham and cheese or chicken and rice. Again."
Dieting without effort. Now that's sweet!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 04:55 pm (UTC)(I can't browse the Ikea website at home because I have an old browser--and I can't upgrade the browser until I upgrade the computer. But, I can Google specific items on the Ikea website if I know what I'm looking for.)
Thanks.
no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 05:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 05:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 06:19 pm (UTC)And after all that, the tag wasn't a bloody bit of good; everything I'm about to tell you I found online. Oh, well, at least I have a few more of the plates.
Anyway - it's part of the 365+ kitchenware line, called "Arv." None of the pictures on the website exactly match what is sitting next to my monitor, but these are close: depending on what it is they call it either a bowl or deep plate, just to confuse the matter further.
What I have is that general shape, only pure white and with a plain, round edge. No fancy nothin'. And I paid $3.99 per, which is between the prices listed there. On the bottom is stamped "Ikea 365+ Made in China" (Wheee! Melamine!) On the tag there's a black box with these numbers in white: 900.444.67 followed by these numbers in black on white: 16597. (Plugging those into the search feature on Ikea's website got me nowhere, but you've got Reference!Librarian mojo.)
no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 06:25 pm (UTC)(btw, I see now why I couldn't Google it: the word "white" is nowhere on the screen.)
no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 06:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 06:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 07:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 06:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 06:48 pm (UTC)Been meaning to email you. That comm what wasn't open for forever has just opened back up, but they say outright that they won't link to journals that don't show a lot of posting/commenting activity. I'm thinking that now is the time to start a recipe of the week program or something.
no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 06:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 08:21 pm (UTC)When I eat out, I always ask for a to-go box when they bring the food. That way I pack up half the food (or whatever is beyond a reasonable portion) right away. It's so much easier to eat proper portions if that's all that's on your plate. Especially when you were raised to "always clean your plate."
Plus, then I have another meal already packed and ready.
Never been to Ikea, there isn't one near me. But I have wasted rather a lot of time on their website.
no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 09:26 pm (UTC)That is a fab idea. I have friends who always bring their own tupperware so they don't have to wait - it's the waiting that makes me keep picking at things!
(Maybe I'll just start bringing one of my beloved bentos along with me! I'm totally getting more; two are not enough... although I wish I could just buy the inner containers, as I really don't need half a dozen of the thermoses kicking around!)
no subject
Date: 2007-06-24 01:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-24 01:38 am (UTC)What I've got is pretty much the same thing, only cheaper, with a spoon instead of chopsticks, and no bag. Slightly larger capacity, though. Hmm.