Put some on, put some back

This is another expression to help keep you on track.

Years ago when the boys were sitting down to breakfast, I let them take as much sugar as their spoons would hold and told them to "put some on then put some back". They were happy because they were in control; they were the ones in charge of scooping and sprinkling it over their cereal, and I was happy because 99% of it was going back into the canister. (It's all optics when it comes to children.)

But this expression has served me well over the years and it can apply to a lot more than the sugar you use. When I'm putting jam on my toast, I'll put some on then scrape some of it off and put it back in the jar. The days of lathering it 1/4 inch thick edge to edge are over for me. And I do this with just about everything I eat. I'm not denying myself anything but I'm not over doing it either.

So whether you're having ice cream, a wedge of cake or a bowl of beef stew, try serving yourself what you would normally eat then put some of it back. It won't kill you and you won't starve. But over time, your new habit of 'put some on, put some back' should have a big impact on your waist line and your grocery bill.