How to Avoid the Quarantine 15

Give me a loaf of good bread and a stick of butter and you can color me happy! We all have foods like this.  Foods that taste so good to us or have such happy memories associated with these foods that we have trouble limiting ourselves to a reasonable portion.  This is the reason I don’t keep fresh, delicious bakery bread in the house or I have it only when I am expecting a crowd.

What happens when we have a stockpile of Doritos or TastyKakes in your pantry?  It is a few hours after dinner.  You have done everything you are supposed to do. You have followed the rules.  You are socially isolating, keeping ourselves six feet behind others, avoiding crowds and only doing essential shopping. You are spending much more time at home than ever and you need a break, you need to soothe yourself, you need a treat. 

When these “trigger foods” are in our kitchens, we are setting ourselves up for failure on a healthy eating path.  Think carefully about what foods are in your kitchen.  Before you go to the food store make sure that you have eaten and pack your resolve. 

1.      Make a list

2.      Before you decide to pick up a gallon of ice cream or that bag of M&M’s really think about who you are buying it for.  If you think you are buying these treats for your children or your husband/wife, ask yourself how much of these foods you will end up eating and is it really essential that you buy them.

3.      If you purchase foods like potato chips, ice cream and candy, they will be challenging your diet for the entire week, not just one day

4.      If problem foods are NOT in your house and you are looking for a snack, it is less likely that you will leave the house only for those foods.

Quarantine does not have to lead to weight gain.  Make a plan, prepare your food ahead of time and eat only what is on your plan.