Things You'll Need:
- Self Control!
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Step 1
Eat vegetables or fruit before every meal. If you are truly opposed to vegetables, a non-cream based soup will do. No matter how hungry you are or how much you feel like you could down a few slices of pizza, eat a large salad, apple, or cooked veggies before you dive into your main meal. This will control your hunger so you don't stuff your face with junk food that you later regret. In fact, I recommend getting a salad or soup first and then going back for whatever else you plan on getting (sandwich/pizza/etc.) because you eat with your eyes and are bound to order less once the initial hunger is cleared.
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Step 2
Try to never be ravenous when you go to eat. If you're getting hungry and know you won't eat for an hour or so, grab some fruit, nuts, hummus with carrots or whole wheat crackers to put off your hunger. That way, once you get your food you wont go for the 12 in sub sandwich and large chips. The few calories in the snack will save you many more at meal time.
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Step 3
Always choose the healthiest options between things. Choose whole wheat bread over white, baked chips over fried, mustard over full fat mayo, cheese or veggie pizza over any pizza with meat, grilled chicken over breaded chicken, italian or vinaigrette dressing over creamy dressing, broth soup over cream based soup...you get the idea. This little substitutions will add up and will make a big difference over time.
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Step 4
PORTIONS, PORTIONS, PORTIONS. This is where students, and all people for that matter, get in the most trouble. Do you really need 4 slices of pizza to be satisfied? No. Even if you're a football player, no one needs that much food, especially when it's not nourishing your body. Trust me, I know it's hard to eat salads everyday when that's just about the only healthy option offered at college, and I don't expect anyone to do that. If you're craving something that's fattening, whether it be pizza, pasta, cookies, or ice cream, slow down and enjoy it. If you follow step 1 and have something before you dive into these dishes, you hopefully won't be so hungry you have to shove it down your throat. It definitely takes practice, but try just ordering one slice of pizza after you have some soup or salad, and I think you will find that's all it takes. I've been doing for a while so I can just take a few bites and be satisfied, but everyone's different. When your friends come back with a big bag of chips and dip, don't deprive yourself, just take a handful, eat slowly, and enjoy them.
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Step 5
If you end up eating a bunch of pizza don't give up and say "now that i've messed up i might as well eat a pint of ice cream." This isn't a diet, it's a lifestyle, so if you slip up just try your best at the next meal. It does take practice.
