One trick that works for me: if I have a lot of something on hand, I eat a lot of it. If I have only a little, I don’t eat it. So I try to stock a lot of produce and only a little junk food.

@Rick: try setting aside a “eat now” spot in your fridge, for foods that need to be eaten soon or go bad. It also helps to have an uncluttered fridge, makes keeping track of what’s actually in there much easier.

You’re assuming all of us are normal people.

Unfortunately, for some of us, some foods do trigger addictive or compulsive eating behavior. I agree that the shaming approach of “bad” or “forbidden” foods is counterproductive, but if I know that having a box of cookies in the house means I will reach for the cookies first–and eat the entire box in one sitting–and have no appetite for vegetables and fruits and other foods that have a better effect on my health and well-being, then it’s only sensible for me to choose not to keep boxes of cookies at home.

Also, the simple fact is that some foods are healthier to eat in larger quantities than others are. Large amounts of sugar aren’t good for anyone. Even olive oil, which is considered healthy, isn’t something I would consume by the cupful–but I’m not tempted to overeat olive oil. I *am* tempted to overeat cookies and other sugary, refined-flour foods. And I feel better when I don’t overeat them. So I adjust my shopping and storage habits accordingly.

I only buy enough food that I will eat it before the expiry date. I live alone, so I do go to the grocery store a lot, but that’s okay with me. I have recently been trying to eat my way through my cupboards because I had a lot of dried stuff that felt cluttery to me, so for example, instead of buying more pasta when it was on sale, I am eating what I already have.

I label food in bottles or containers with the dates I opened them. Just mark ‘em with a Sharpie. I also mark my own containers using a piece of tape to write on. That way there’s no risk of eating something that’s been around too long but doesn’t warn you by appearance or odor.

Also, recently I was amazed to discover that some people believe that the manufacturer’s stamped on “expiration date” still applies after you’ve opened the container. Big mistake!

Rick
(more on this question in my post: http://rickcolosimo.blogspot.c.....nning.html)

Even dividing calories into “good” and “bad”, as Ann says, isn’t a good idea. There’s no reason to feel guilty for eating what you want. Normal people aren’t going to eat cake all day, even if they can. Everyone likes to eat a balanced diet.

Question: Why are there eggs in a bowl?