In week eight of A New You!, we look at how good etiquette at mealtimes can help win the fat war...

Week 8 diet

Don't miss dietician Geraldine Georgeou's latest diet


Why is it that in Jane Austen films, the upper class women always seem so slim? Perhaps table manners were at least in part the cause. New research shows that eating like a lady can shave thousands off your weekly kilojoule count.

A study of 3200 people reported in the British Medical Journal confirms that gulping down meals almost doubles your chance of obesity.

"We've become less civilised," says dietitian Geraldine Georgeou. "In the past, people would spend a good hour over dinner... There would be smaller portions and many small courses, not one big meal.

"One study shows that teens who ate in front of the TV ate about 2100kJ more per meal."

So, lay the table with your best china and turn off your television while you eat.

Posh noshing

Here are some clever ways to use table manners to eat less:

1. Cut your food into dainty, bite-sized pieces, and chew each mouthful 20 times. This will give your brain time to register that your stomach is full, and you'll be less likely to overeat.
2. Set the table. This sends your family and friends a clear message that there'll be no mindless munching around the TV, and by interspersing mouthfuls with conversation, you'll also eat less.
3. Use chopsticks to slow yourself down. One reason why Asian nations have traditionally slim populations is that they eat many small courses slowly, over a longer time.
4. Use small plates, glasses and spoons to help you control portion sizes.
5. Use your non-dominant hand to eat. This way, you won't put food into your mouth so quickly.

Celebrity sip

Singing star Christina Aguilera loves sipping on "designer" tea and coffee rather than kilojoule-dense drinks. "Studies have found that tea and coffee contain antioxidants, which provide health benefits," says Geraldine. "Just avoid whole milk, whipped cream, sugar or syrup. They're fat bombs. Also, keep the coffee size regular, rather than large — a big difference in kilojoules."

Week 8 diet

Don't miss dietician Geraldine Georgeou's latest diet



See www.precisionhealthandfitness.wordpress.com for more advice from our fitness trainer James Menage.



Do you have a weight loss story to share with us? We'd love to hear about it. Email: womansday@acpmagazines.com.au

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