Dessert Plates · Everyday Dishes ·May 24, 2023

How to Use Dessert Plates to Control Your Portion

Navigation

How do Dessert Plates help Control Portion Sizes?
Tips for Using Dessert Plates for Mindful Eating
Final Words

While everyone wants to stay healthy and fit, most don't adopt a healthy lifestyle involving regular exercise, meditation, a balanced diet, or mindful eating. Many people in my social circle suffer from various health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and stress.

So, I wondered what could have gone wrong with them. Not maintaining a balanced diet or approaching mindful eating is one of the most significant reasons behind the increased risks of chronic health conditions. Therefore, mindful eating is very important for everyone.

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, mindful eating is integral to mindfulness philosophy. It encourages people to focus on their thoughts, feelings, emotions, and physical sensations. The purpose is to stay alert and in the present moment.

Numerous studies have shown that mindful eating is effective for people looking to maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of chronic complications, such as obesity, heart disease, insomnia, and gut issues. But how do you practice mindful eating? One way is setting the table properly and using the right dinnerware sets to control portion sizes.

Porcelain vs. stoneware – no matter which dinnerware sets, pasta bowls, or dessert plates you choose, practicing mindful eating can reduce food waste, psychologically impact your brain, and force you to feel full even if you have eaten a smaller portion.

How do Dessert Plates help Control Portion Sizes?

I have always wondered how dessert plates can control portion sizes. I performed thorough research to determine the reason behind this psychology, and I found that the plate's size substantially influences how much one eats.

Numerous studies have shown that those who eat on large-sized plates consume more calories than those who eat food from small-sized plates. Whenever I would see a large plate, I would fill it up.

Do you know what the reason was? Well, this is human psychology and your natural tendency to eat food present on the plate. So this is where I switched from regular to dessert plates to avoid eating everything present on the plate.

Food appears smaller on a larger plate, forcing you to fill it up and eat more and causing you to consume more calories. Remember, this can increase the risk of weight gain and obesity, conditions linked to chronic complications like hypertension and heart disease.

On the other hand, using dessert plates, such as the right-sized plates from MALACASA, is an excellent way to trick your brain and make you think you are eating more. Because dessert plates are smaller than the regular ones, they force you to take smaller portions, leading to controlled calorie intake.

Tips for Using Dessert Plates for Mindful Eating

Now that you know how dessert plates ensure mindful eating, understanding how to use them for mindful eating is crucial. Before I give you these tips, I want to encourage you to go for high-quality dessert plates made of durable materials like stoneware or porcelain to ensure they last for a long time and create value for your investment. Here are the tips!

Choose the Right Size Plate

A dinnerware usually has a set of plates 10 inches in diameter, preventing you and your family from controlling portion sizes and practicing mindful eating. In contrast, you can control the portion size when you choose and use dessert plates of the correct size.

Besides, a dessert plate's size depends on the food you serve on a particular occasion. For instance, if you serve cupcakes, cookies, or pies, you can use smaller plates. However, if you serve a cake, you must use a large plate.

So, this is where I want to give you another tip – i.e., don't prepare or bake large-sized desserts, such as cakes or pies. Instead, use ramekins to make individual portions.

Fill The Plate with A Variety of Foods

I always take my time and relish each bite because I use a dessert plate instead of a regular one and fill it with a variety of foods. Not only does this help me focus on the flavors, but it also lets me enjoy the food's texture and recognize when I am full. So this is how I avoid overeating.

I recommend the same strategy for everyone reading this blog – fill your plate with different foods to avoid overeating. You will be less likely to focus on a single food item, allowing you to consume a more balanced meal without overindulging into a single one. Filling your dessert plate allows for the following:

Eating slowly and savoring your food
Paying attention to your hunger cues
Putting your fork down between bites
Making you think your stomach is full
Creating a more enjoyable eating experience
Avoiding distractions when eating
Focusing on the present moment

Eat Slowly and Savor Your Food

Eating slowly and savoring your food is another important thing for mindful eating. Eating quickly can cause overeating and weight gain. Chewing food thoroughly, however, allows your stomach to break it down into smaller pieces, aiding digestion and metabolism.

At the same time, you can avoid problems like heartburn, nausea, and indigestion. Remember, your gut health impacts your overall physical and mental well-being. In fact, 70% of your immune cells exist in the gut.

So taking care of your gut through smaller portions and slow eating is an excellent way to stay fit, maintain a healthy weight, and avoid health complications while appreciating the textures and flavors of your favorite food.

Final Words

Nothing is more important than controlling your portion sizes because the type of food and how much you eat affect your overall well-being. You can manage your food's portion sizes using dessert plates instead of regular dinner plates.

Choose high-quality dessert plates from durable, long-lasting materials like stoneware and porcelain. Focus on white plates for the food's appearance and mindful eating.

MALACASA is a reputable online store offering premium-quality dessert plates at affordable prices. Check out MALACASA's collection of dessert plates, or contact us for more information!