Overcome Six Diet Mistakes

Diet Mistake #1 

You think you eat much less than others.

You live on salads and other "diet" foods yet you are overweight, while your friends eat burgers and fries and never gain a pound.

Are you really eating less than everyone else? Just because something is good for you or low in fat and calories doesn't mean you can eat unlimited amounts.

"The average consumer is really not aware of correct portion sizes," says Keri Gans, M.S., R.D., CDN, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.

Even the size of the container can trick most people into overeating. In one study, people were given popcorn in different-size bowls. People ate 33 percent more when the stale popcorn was put in a large container than when it was in a medium bowl.

The same applies to packaged foods. Studies have shown that people eat 20-40 percent more from large packages than they do from small packages. "That bag of baked potato chips may seem like one serving, but it's really two or three," Gans says.

Try this: Pour or dish out what you normally eat and measure it. Typically, it's more than you think.

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