Healthy Eating With Him

Make sure his fattening habits do not become yours by considering these tips.

Whether you have been married for over 25 years or just reached your first wedding anniversary, you have probably figured out that going from being a single gal to being a part of a duo can really change how and what you are eating.

See ya, salad with grilled chicken and dressing on the side; hello, French fries and cheeseburgers. As you settle into couple-dom, chances are, some of your healthy eating habits have started to slip. However, the reality is that most women simply cannot eat like guys do for very long without packing on the pounds. Here are four of the most common pitfalls to watch out for:

PITFALL: You are eating as much as he is – and not realising it.

Sure, you may be equals in the relationship, but men are taller and more muscular, so they can simply eat more than women without gaining weight.

To maintain a healthy weight, men need between 2,200 and 2,800 calories a day, whereas women only need 1,400 to 2,000. That means he can handle an extra slice of pizza, two cocktails and dessert without doing damage. How can you stick to healthy portions while he is piling his plate high?

One of the biggest problems is that men tend to be speed-eaters. If you try to keep up the pace, you are not giving your stomach time to register that it is full – which happens at least 20 minutes after you have started eating.

Stay on track with these helpful tips for mindful eating: Put your fork down in between bites, sip water often and make a conscious effort to chew your food thoroughly. It is not always easy, but it is doable. Once he sees you doing this, you can nudge him to follow suit so he can slow down as well.