You’ve heard it mentioned in popular magazines that SIZE DOES NOT MATTER…but I’m here to tell you the ugly truth: IT DOES.

I’m not just talking about the size of a man’s…LEGS (yes fellas, we don’t like the spindly kind unless the rest of you is spindly too)…I’m talking about SERVING SIZE and why it’s important.

If you were to take a look at the photo of my kitchen counter you would see nine (9) items displaying an accurate depiction of a serving size each of spinach, chocolate-covered pretzels, almonds, chocolate chips, apples, blueberries, dried apricots, Ezekiel bread and natural peanut butter. 

If you’re like me your first thought might be, “That’s it?!  That’s a serving size?!”

If you think that’s small, imagine using an actual tablespoon to measure out your half-n-half each morning for your coffee or tea. 😉

Serving sizes or “portions” aren’t just some arbitrary facts printed on the sides of your groceries and they aren’t inhumanely designed by some evil scientists or dieticians to make you miserable, they’re actually designed to inform you.

The reason that you can eat a bag of chips or half a sleeve of Oreos and STILL FEEL HUNGRY, is because you are eating foods that are NUTRITIONALLY BANKRUPT of ANY healthy nutrients!

Calories aside, our bodies have basic, fundamental needs that have to be met each day.

Of course we take for granted what goes on at the microscopic level.  In fact, it’s probably the very last thing you think about when you eat, if you think about it at all and while satiety (that feeling of fullness) isn’t always proportional to serving size, unless you have a metabolic or genetic disease that overrides it, when you eat healthy foods and eat with intention, cravings and hunger do normalize.

What happens, however, when the foods you eat are nutritionally bankrupt? Does your body stop functioning?  Do your cells stop doing their work?  Does everything come to a screeching halt?  The short answer to that is, “yes”, but the more complex answer is that, instead of turning off like an electric appliance, our body does everything in its power to keep on functioning–even if it has to function in a way that’s not the best for your body, long term.

If your body doesn’t get the nutrients it needs:  Macronutrients (Proteins, Carbohydrates, and Fats) or Micronutrients (Vitamins, Minerals), your body will continue to function by increasing its demands and as a result, you WILL feel hungrier and you WON’T have the energy you need, because essentially you will be starving your cells.

The reason why you eat more and never feel satisfied is because you a nutritionally starving your cells!

Compound this fact with drinking something other than water or unsweetened tea (as compared to soda, flavored coffee drinks or cocktails) and right away you can see how you’re not only depriving your body of essential nutrients.

Studies show that people who regularly drink their calories will meet 3/4 of their TOTAL DAILY CALORIC INTAKE by lunchtime!

*(juice or milk with breakfast; your favorite flavored coffee drink; sweetened iced tea or soda for lunch)*

Focusing on eating nutrient dense foods, such as raw fruits and vegetables, unprocessed meats and cheeses, whole grains and nuts, will improve your body’s nutrient deficit and improve your health.  Eating this way makes you feel full because not only do you get the fiber and natural fats that your body needs, your nutrient requirements are met.

Healthy food is fuel for your body. Feed yourself healthy food and your body will reward you. It will function better, you’ll feel better and you’ll even begin to notice a change.

Taking more calories in than you burn and your body will store it for later, EVEN if it’s HEALTHY food.

Don’t fall into the trap of “It’s good for me I can eat MORE” OR  “I skipped (insert meal here–>breakfast/lunch/dinner) so I can eat MORE! Make the switch to nutrient dense foods of appropriate portion sizes and watch how the magic unfolds.  Your body will reward you by losing what it doesn’t need (excess fat) and gaining more of what it does (energy).

If making the transition has been difficult for you, I’d love to help!  Sign up for my VIP List in order to qualify for discounts on all my products and services or stop by and sign up for a free consultation and see how I can help you get back on track.