Do You Know To Count Your BLT's??? They're not Free!

[Ranaesheart]

Are you aware of your BLT's ... Bites, Licks and Tastes?  They can definitely add up to many, many calories in a day and can be the reason we are not losing weight and can even cause us to gain those unwanted pounds.

Here's a few things to watch out for ...

Coffee creamer
Dipping into the candy jar
Salad dressing
Sugar
Licking your fingers, the beater or the bowl while baking
Multiple tastes of the food you are preparing for dinner
Bites from the plates of family/friends
Just a few chips or pretzels

Do you know what these add up to?  Are they ones you deal with or are aware of?  Any personal experiences?  Any items to add to the list?  Have you designed ways to deal with this so you control the amount, avoid them or creative ways to avoid them?

[Skailark]

I think i will add something to the list

Coffee creamer
Dipping into the candy jar
Salad dressing
Sugar
Licking your fingers, the beater or the bowl while baking
Multiple tastes of the food you are preparing for dinner
Bites from the plates of family/friends
Just a few chips or pretzels
_____________________________________________________

*I usally like something sweet after my dinner, like a maltesrs or a candy i put in my mouth. Lately have substituted it with mint gums. Do you think it is good?

[jeh57]

You are so right! A bite here and there adds up at the end of the day! You would be so surprised when the calories were added up! I use to be so bad when it came to chopping up velvetta for dishes! I would eat a piece here and there.....i was full of cheese when i was finished cooking!! Lol

The sampling of the dinner is a big one for me....i have to taste things,i just take a little taste now...instead the big spoonful i was eating!

Another biggie for me was the grandkids ice cream cones..I would help them get started with their cones....Lol.

I also had a problem with nuts.....just a few does it....not a handful!!!

I was bad with orange juice....would guzzle a big glass,now i have an orange...the fiber in the orange helps fill you up.

Eat slow and enjoy every bite....I was able to down a banana in a few bites! Now,i nibble it and really enjoy the taste...really,you can get 100 nibbles out of a banana.

The key is.....Think before you eat!!! Don't just grab something handy!! There again,make your calories count,good food choices!!

[Whatawoman]

One of the hardest things for me is having a child who NEVER finishes her plat- however much or little I put on it she has to leave some.... it is so tempting to pick at it while taking the plate out.

I have agood friend who used to have the same problem so she has a bottle of washing up liquid at the table with the sauces and condiments and as soon as her son has finished she pours cheap washing up liquid over the left overs so she wont pick at it....

[Ranaesheart]

Great idea about the washing liquid.  A friend of mine does something similar at a restaurant.  She divides her meal in half and, since she doesn't trust herself to stay out of it if she took the other half home, as soon as it is divided she pours water from her glass on the other half so she is not tempted to pick at it or eat more part way through her meal.

Can certainly relate on the "nut" thing ... I now keep them in the freezer and only pull out one portion and put the others back with the rule ... "no more" for that day.  It helps knowing I can have them again, just not two helpings at a time.

Great piece of advice on the orange rather than the orange juice.  That is true with most fruits.  An apple will fill me up and stay with me and it takes so little apple juice to equal the same calories and it is guzzled quickly and I'm still hungry.  Anymore, I always choose the fruit rather than the juice.  One exception ... I love V-8 juice ... and you can have that easily!

[jeh57]

Oh yeah....i drink V-8.....the low sodium one....real healthy!

[ChitChatNIne]

Offenders for me:

1X day Coffee Creamer &
Sugar 1X day in my coffee

I've made up 100 calorie bags of my chips, popcorn, etc. and try to keep my hands out of the large bag.

C~

[pcarsey]

What about non dairy creamer instead of coffee creamer and honey instead of regular sugar?