Amy's Nutrition Picks: A New Year's Resolution

When you want to indulge in a dessert (even if this is a daily habit), make it a good quality dessert and enjoy it! My patients are always asking me about whether or not they should bake with Splenda. Since I personally would not bake with an artificial sweetener, my suggestion is to just limit the amount they consume at one sitting to a 2x2 inch piece. This may seem overly small, but think in terms of the '3-Bite Rule'. The 3-Bite Rule says: The first bite is to get a good taste. The second bite is to verify it was as good as we thought it would be. The third bite is the LAST BITE, so savor it. When I consciously apply this rule to desserts, I notice that after the third bite or so, I quit noticing what I am eating and am eating just to "finish it up" and get on with other things. When I consistently choose good quality, homemade desserts, then pre-made, store bought sweets just don't taste good! Knowing they are laden with high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils also makes them less appealing.
In order to consciously indulge ourselves, we must have an awareness of what we are doing. No more vending machine sweets while working at a computer or reaching for candy when we are actually hungry for real food or using sweets to fill another need. Eating must become a nourishing act, similar to other things we can do to nourish ourselves. And eating this way, whether it is with food or sweets, is not convenient or always easy! It takes resolution and a commitment to nourishing ourselves with what we eat. You're worth it!