On Ash Wednesday, I started a diet. I need to lose about 30 pounds (and, more importantly, keep it off). Overweight elves make the reindeer work harder.

I’ll be honest. I hate everything about being on a diet – everything. But, the last ten days have helped me identify some useful tips that I thought I’d share:

1) Being mindful of your eating is really important. Without mindfulness, it’s all too easy to munch
your way through a box of Girl Scout cookies without even realizing you’ve done it.

2) It’s not as much what we eat as how much we eat –which is what makes dining out such a challenge. The portion sizes are enormous, usually at least twice what you should have. That’s fine when you are at home and can make it two meals, but when you are traveling, if you don’t have access to a fridge and a microwave, you either waste food or order an appetizer or a kid’s meal.

3) If you feel hungry, get yourself a no or low calorie drink like water or a cup of unsweetened tea. Often, that’s enough to quell the hunger.

4) If you have healthy foods you like easily accessible, you are more likely to eat them. You’re
just not going to make a late night trip to the store to get carrot sticks. You’ll eat the ice cream instead – unless you have pre-sliced fresh pineapple!

5) I find that having strong flavors are more satisfying: some chopped gardineria on a sandwich, a cornichon as a snack, a squirt of siracha sauce on a piece of fish. They make me happy without adding
a ton of calories.

6) Measuring matters. Keep the measuring spoons and cups right next to the stove.

What tips would you like to share with me?