At Bub’s Zionsville with Jeff recently. Chose 4 oz. instead of 8 oz. burger to balance beer.
Prior Planning Prevents…
Overeating. Too many calories. Potential weight gain. Unhealthy lifestyle.
I think the Army created the original saying “prior planning prevents piss poor performance,” but my version has served me well over the years.
My version is to invest minimal time in planning and consciously thinking about food choices and balanced eating. This takes maybe a couple minutes max.
But I receive big dividends and gains through better health and well-being by putting forth the effort.
Jeff at Bub’s Zionsville enjoying the rewards of prior planning.
Eating Out at Restaurants. This is when I use prior planning the most, because I’ll likely consume a few extra calories when eating out, compared to eating at home. I’m okay with that. But that’s why I do the prior thinking and planning.
Tonight’s a great example. We have dinner reservations at an upscale Italian restaurant. I paid attention to my breakfast choices and portion sizes – slightly smaller, yet plenty of satisfying protein. During lunch, I scanned the restaurant’s online menu. Desserts weren’t listed, so you can guarantee I’ll be asking my waiter what dessert choices they have even before that first glass of wine arrives.
Because if I’m getting dessert, it impacts what I order for appetizer, salad and/or entrée. And because I plan on having dessert tonight, I haven’t had my daily treat/fun food yet.
Prior planning = better calorie balance.
Buffets, barbecues, pitch-ins, pot lucks, receptions. We all go to events/functions where there’s an amazingly large spread of food choices, right? Most people grab an empty plate at the end of the buffet line and just start mindlessly piling on the foods. Every food. Because it’s there. On the table.
But not me. I’m that annoying person out of line circling around you, peaking at all the choices BEFORE I start. Because I want to choose wisely and balance my choices, and how can I do that without LOOKING at everything first? I may decide to take 3 fried chicken thighs and lots of cheesy potatoes but skip the lettuce and pasta salads.
My recent 60’s & 70’s Retro Foods Party segment was like a mini buffet reception. Prior planning means maybe you’d opt for the California Dip, Watergate Salad and Crescent Roll Chicken Roll Bundles, but not the Grape Jelly Meatballs, Ranch Dip and Dr. Pepper Jello Mold. Or vice versa. But everyone wants to make room for the CheeseBall!
Jeff says he’s never seen anyone who approaches food and eating like I do….says my balancing and prior planning approach is very similar to managing finances. He’s a believer in this approach and likes to think he created the term “calorie budget,” (since he’s in the financial industry), even though I’ve told him dozens of time we dietitians have used this concept forever.
And since he’s known me – 15 years now – he enthusiastically uses this prior planning approach to manage his eating. Like not eating his yogurt, apple and all of the Asian Sweet & Sour Bean Salad in his lunch today, so he “can drink more wine tonight.” At least he understands the concept. To each his own with prior planning. It’s all about choice and balance.
Cheers!