Some days you feel like eating carrots, and other days it’s got to be carrot cake. This we know. So here are some strategies for dealing with the days when life gets in the way of a healthful lifestyle. The good news is that it can be done, and research supports it.
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“I want to eat popcorn at the movies today.”
Dinner and a movie? Believe it or not, a tub of popcorn with a soft drink can rack up more calories than the meal you just had. Here’s what to do.
Can’t make it through the movie without popcorn? Get the smallest tub available and split it. Some theaters offer kids’ sizes.
Avoid sugary soft drinks. Even a “small” is Godzilla-size. Order bottled water instead or let this be your diet-drink occasion. Munch slowly and make it last.
“I’m on the road eating lunch with co-workers today.”
For real-life advice on this one, we go live to former CNN medical correspondent Rhonda Rowland, inquiring how she avoided extra weight while pounding the pavement nationwide gathering the latest medical news.
“It was always a challenge to get lunch in. Also, all that adrenaline gets you to burn off food quickly, and I always feared hypoglycemia as a result. Being on the road was not an excuse to eat lots of fast food or splurge on dessert. If possible I’d pick out a Chinese or Thai restaurant, because you can always eat low-fat and stay within the CNN per diem. I stuck to my guns about ordering chicken, pasta or salads in restaurants. At night, same thing — I often ordered fish or pasta. You know what they say about the TV camera adding extra pounds. So, I was always concerned about picking up extra weight on the road.” By the way: She didn’t.
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Carolyn O’Neil is a registered dietitian and co-author of “The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous!”