Raines Realm

We all know that when we go out to eat, we are given ridiculous portion sizes. Quanity has topped quality and our health and waist lines are suffering. The good news is that we don't have to let our out of control portion sizes dictate our lives as long as we exercise some proper planning. The key to correct portions is developing those habits at home. When you plate your food, don't pile it high, covering every inch of your plate. In fact, no food should ever go around the rim of your plate. You should be able to see your plate through your food. It should be delicately placed, preferably in a way that's aesthetically pleasing. We have all heard the ratio that half of the plate should be vegetables, one quarter starch, and one quarter protein. But, what about the fact that there are a multitude of plate sizes on the market. The ratio is not to be taken literally. It means that out of the proper portion sizes, you should aim for twice as much vegetables as starch and...

The holidays bring lots of delicious treats and and decadent dishes filled with nostalgia. And, we want to enjoy everything which generally means we sacrifice a few pounds on the scale to be able to have a little bit of everything. And that's okay, but now we want the weight gone! Here's the best habit to help you bounce back and maintain your weight. Stop snacking. I know, I know, even when it's not a holiday, we are bombarded with snack foods. Chips and dip, snack bars, candies, cookies, cakes, hand-held foods in every shape, size, and color. No food is off-limits, but you need not eat them in between meals to enjoy them. When you snack throughout the day, you're not allowing your body to truly be hungry at meal times. You're also adding in a lot of extra calories that your body really does not need. In a society surrounded by snack foods and the fourth meal drive thru option, we have become scared of hunger. Hunger is good. Not starving, but being hungry f...