I realized that every night when I make dinner I make my dinner plate look "pretty" and well balanced. Tonight we had grilled chicken tenderloins and grilled carrots. I know I will not eat the carrots, I'm only 6 weeks out from surgery and will barely get through 3-4oz of my Protein much less veggies.

Yet, every night I put a teaspoon of veggies on my plate to make it look like a "proper meal".

Anyone else do this or am I the only crazy one? lol

I had the sleeve, so I am generally having a little room for veg, but yes, I like to make things look balanced too, and I use a saucer or small plate to make my serving look more normal, and I bought a few really pretty ones just for me before surgery.

We eat first with our eyes.

I am just so amazed that ONE saucer fills me up, instead of three plates. I am so happy about that!

I had the sleeve, so I am generally having a little room for veg, but yes, I like to make things look balanced too, and I use a saucer or small plate to make my serving look more normal, and I bought a few really pretty ones just for me before surgery.

We eat first with our eyes.

I am just so amazed that ONE saucer fills me up, instead of three plates. I am so happy about that!

I was sleeved also and I use desert plates ! I would use a saucer but the indentation in the middle for the cup bothers me. I must say smaller plates means less to wash!

I still have trouble judging my serving size and put too much on my plate. I must admit that my dogs love it because they get the leftovers. They are the first rinse cycle in the washing process.

I try not to put anything on my plate that i cant or shouldnt eat because if its on the plate im going to want to eat it

Right now, I am staying with my daughter and her family, so at mealtime, I put a "balanced" meal onto my small plate. I want the boys to see "Granny" eats her veggies. We all should take "one bite" of everything before we decide we don't like something.--just trying to set a good example, I guess.

@@Nurse_Lenora

After surgery, I love to cook again. I'm almost 2 years out. My salad plate has all my portioned food groups. Some day's I cant eat the whole meal. I place it in the fridge and eat it later. I prefer a fresh ingredient homemade meals.Who needs a fancy restaurant when you can make a plate presentation healthy and pretty.

I know a lot of people use small plates and utensils but I really like using normal sizes. It keeps me mindful that I am eating small amounts, and I really enjoy that I can be satisfied on so little, it makes me feel more in control. Also it helps for when I am in situations where a plate might be prepared for me. I know how much I should leave (like at a restaurant). Also a small amount of food on a larger plate appears to be fine dining. I have some really nice dinnerware and flatware I purchased not long before surgery and I love to use them.

Nothing wrong with that, you will be eating that way in the final phase.

Now if you picked up a fork full of food and said "here comes the airplane" as you made it go through airplane loops and turns towards your own mouth, well that might be cause for concern of the people you are eating with to slowly, walk backwards away from the dining room while keeping eye contact with you.

I use my daughter's old Winnie the Pooh plate. Pooh's big stomach sticking out of his shirt reminds me to keep the food to a minimum so I don't end up looking like him...HA HA!. I only put on my plate what I intend to eat. Sometimes I can't eat it all...but if I prepare food for the family I know I can't eat or shouldn't eat...I don't put it on my plate at all. I try to be realistic in my meal portions, because if I take too much...my family won't have enough for seconds...and they all know I hate to waste food.

I'm only a few months out from surgery myself and I have a hard time gauging appropriate portion sizes so I stick with my salad plates. Even then I fill it up and think "That's not enough" and remind myself I can always get more if I want it. Then I eat and can't finish it. It is still very surprising. I'm one who always loaded up a regular sized plate and still went back for seconds so it's a bit of a mind bender for me!

Edited March 22, 201610 yr by needtorecover

I weigh my food so how it looks on the plates doesn't matter. I do like to see how small 4oz of meat looks on a plate so I can better judge it when I am eating out.

I always prepare a pretty, balanced plate of food. You are not crazy! We eat with our eyes first.

My nut also taught me from the beginning that I need to eat balanced meals. She does not believe in Protein first. She believes in 2 bites of protein to every 1 bite of veggies or fruit.

I always end up with leftovers on my plate because I have very good restriction. I wish I had a dog! LOL!