AARP Rewards Healthy Plate Contest, Week 1 May 3-9, 2021

About an hour before dinner, I eat four or five cookies to reduce my appetite, then I eat less dinner.

T try to stay out of the room with the food.  I don't have to go through the kitchen for most things so that helps.  I do not try to eat as much as others in my group whether out and about or home for the long haul.  I try to avoid buying the stuff that makes me want more.

I use a smaller plate for my food. That way it looks like I have more to eat. 

We try eat dinner earlier in the day. Then take at walk at regular dinner time. 

I’m a life member of WW (Weight Watchers). I’m encouraged in a healthy lifestyle and eating.

We have a large green salad every day. Greens may include one or more of the following: kale, baby greens, romaine, cabbage, spinach. We vary what we add using raw vegetables, sauteed mushrooms, beans, salsa, or fruits like berries, oranges, mangoes, etc. If we need dressing we make it with nuts instead of oil. We also eat nuts and beans every day. We have gained a new appreciation for the flavors of fresh and unprocessed food. Both my husband and I have lost weight and never felt better. We also have found that as we aged, our appetites have decreased. We are now perfectly happy eating two highly nutritious meals a day.  

Cutting back on sugar and sugary drinks

I am eating 3 servings of veggies a day

I hope this is where I put this entry!! AARP doesn't always make things clear enough for those of us who are not electronically inclined.
We invested in a small air fryer to make our plates healthier. It isn't big and fancy but enough for the 2 of us. A small investment for a time saver, money saver, time saver and cooking healthier.
It does veggies great (fresh or frozen) and with little to no oil. A chicken breast or even a small steak is wonderful. We have little waste because it makes enough for both of us if we watch our portioning. There are some frozen bagged dinners, can be bought for a reasonable price, that can be prepared in the microwave. This is our way for the healthier plate.

I have never followed any diet plan, counted calories or points or anything else, just tried to eat sensibly.  Then my metabolism seemed to grind to a halt overnight, and I no longer could maintain my weight on my regular routine.  Several years ago I started inserting one or two "500 days" into my week (never on consecutive days) - it was surprisingly easy to limit my eating on those days to 500 calories, still getting plenty of protein and veggies.  Although every 500 day has its own benefit, the real improvement came in the fact that I suddenly became much more aware of serving sizes and just how many calories there are in foods that were part of my normal diet.  The upshot is that my eating habits are now better on "regular," non-500 days, too!