A family enjoys the main dish of a four-course dinner in their recreational vehicle (RV) in the parking lot of the Kochschule Neumuenster cooking school during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic on November 28, 2020 in Neumuenster, Germany.
Dinner is that meal of the day that home makes pay much attention to because usually, that is when the family is complete and enjoy a conversation with each other.
As a homemaker, you probably pay so much attention to it, to the point that you prepare hearty meals or your husband's favorite. But if someone in your family is concerned about weight gain, eating dinner can pose a problem.
Calories are one of the concerns dieters have at the back of their minds. But if you really cannot give up dinner, then here are dinner mistakes you must pay attention to because practicing them can lead to weight gain.
Not enough healthy foods
Since dinner is about good food and good company, most of the time, we do not notice that what we eat is not healthy enough to suffice our body's needs.
In an interview with Eat This Not That, a registered dietitian from The Oregon Dietitian, Megan Byrd, eating plenty of protein and lots of fiber, with some healthy fats during dinnertime will make you surpass the long night until the morning.
Read also: Try These Post Workout Dinner Ideas To Help You Strengthen Your Fitness Goals
Making it the biggest meal
In an interview with Shape, the Director of John Hopkins Weight Management Center, Lawrence J. Cheskin, MD, shares that people should think of when the energy is needed.
Meanwhile, Melissa Lanz, founder of The Fresh 20, adds that dinner should be a light, well-proportioned meal. Sahep also references the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), noting that dinner should have 450 and 625 calories, which was based on a diet o0f 1,800 to 2,300 daily calories for women and 2,000 to 2,500 calories for men.
Too Much Oil
Share Care points out that adding too much high-calorie oil can change the vegetables' calorie level if you are trying to be healthy. They recommend utilizing low sodium chicken stock. But if you really can't give up oil, they said you could use a sprinkle and season the veggies with salt and pepper to taste.
Comfort Foods
Amy Goodson, MS, RD, shares that some foods should be consumed in smaller proportions, and this chilly wintertime may make people crave warm soups that might contain fats and high calories. When eaten consistently, they point out that this will add a number on your next weigh-in. They also emphasize that protein and fiber will make you feel satisfied and can help you prevent overeating.
You Eat Late
Share Care notes that the snacks and meal timing may not contribute to weight gain, but the quality of foods you eat might be the culprit when you gain weight. They also reference a study that demonstrates eating the majority of your calories late at night may contribute to obesity.
Lex Penney, MS, RD, LDN, RYT, shares that individuals may feel a lot of pressure in filling their stomach during the night when you do not eat for an extended period before dinner time. Penney also adds that if you feel this, you might have to eat more in the morning to eat less in the evening.
Weight gain is the frustration of dieters, and preventing these dinner mistakes will help dieters control their weight. It might also be a good idea to count the calorie intake so that you will know whether you have splurged on eating or not.
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