Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Does using smaller utensils and plates help?



Recommended Posts

Once we can actually eat mushies and then food, would using smaller spoons/forks and plates be helpful? Would that help us to chew the right amounts? Would it help us to take longer to eat? Has anyone done this?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Once we can actually eat mushies and then food, would using smaller spoons/forks and plates be helpful? Would that help us to chew the right amounts? Would it help us to take longer to eat? Has anyone done this?

MOST DEFINITELY! :D

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes using smaller plates and utensils does help with Portion Control and smaller bites its like eating as a baby again Good Luck !

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My nutritionist said there is even a portion plate you can get so you are sure you are eating the right amount. I will borrow my daughter's utensils I guess! LOL

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I like using a smaller plate. It makes me feel like I'm eating a whole meal, since I'm not seeing all the empty space on a regular plate.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I like using a smaller plate. It makes me feel like I'm eating a whole meal, since I'm not seeing all the empty space on a regular plate.

I will be doing this. I do this now - with little silverware when I'm eating a fancy dessert. hmmm .... I don't think there's going to be any fancy Desserts in my future but using the tiny silverware made me take little slivers off whatever dessert it was.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I use my 2 year old's baby utensils. It helps me feel full. You have to take twice as many bites with a baby spoon to equal the amount I would normally eat with a regular spoon. I think with the added time it takes to eat all those little bites I'm able to feel full sooner.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I know a lot of people do use smaller utensils and bread plates, but I never have. I do use luncheon size plates rather than dinner plates, but regular forks & spoons. I want to be able to be as "normal" as possible to fit into the real world.

If you find it's helpful for you.. great!! but it's not strictly necessary. I can take tiny bites from a regular spoon. :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I used the plastic coated baby spoons during mushies! Helped a lot.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Gonna go look for some cool little baby spoons/forks!!! :lol:

I already have demitas spoons that I could use, too.

I think the visual of such small portions on a large plate

would be discouraging. As the song says.... "It's alright to be little bitty!"

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I changed our family plates to luncheon plates. No one complained. I also use a salad fork instead of an entree fork. Another thing that helps is when I put my fork down between bites. I'm a year and a half out and 100 lbs down but I still struggle with portion size and head hunger.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The smaller plate really helps me to serve myself the right portion. I recently had started serving myself bigger portions (more like what the family was eating), thinking I would stop when I was full, but then eating it all! Then I got my head back on straight and returned to serving a small portion and when it was gone, I was done. I never leave the table hungry, but I'm also not overeating.

I used a smaller spoon when I started eating mushies and solid food, to give myself an idea of what a bite should look like. I'm trained now, and I use regular utensils.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I use normal silverware now, but LOVE using little saucer plates (the ones that go under tea cups) to serve myself food. That way I know that if it cant fit on the plate, it shouldn't fit in my stomach! :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I use salad plates and have from the start of my diet, after seeing the nutritionist. She was the one that suggested that. It makes me not feel deprived. I use the bread plate at restaurants,but find it to not have a small fork to use when going out. I, always, use a dessert fork at home. It reminds me to eat slower and smaller bites. I, also, have used a toddler fork and spoon when 1st starting out. Karen

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 1 reply
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×