While many of us save the sabzi for last, some of us prefer to eat it first. But did you know that our health is also impacted by the order in which we consume our meals? Nutritionist Lovneet Batra suggests eating veggies first, then proteins and fats, and finally carbs to aid in improved digestion.
“Have you ever watched someone eat food off their plate in a particular order—tucking into their veggies first, then moving onto the protein part before even touching their side of rice — and think they’ve got some bizarre eating ritual? Possibly, but it’s also likely they’re timing their carb consumption, which, according to a study, helps control blood sugar and, in turn, maintain your weight. So, the hierarchy in which the food plate is consumed has a big role in determining the post-meal glucose and insulin level,” she stated in a post on Instagram.
How does it help?
According to Batra, beginning a meal with vegetables and protein and ending it with carbohydrates aids in maintaining appetite. She added, “This is because protein slows down the release of sugar from carbohydrates into the bloodstream, preventing a sugar ‘high’ and then crashing – and hunger pangs.”
Therefore, according to Batra, altering the food on your plate and the sequence in which you eat can help you make enormous strides toward better health.
Nutritionist Nancy Dehra had previously recommended using the one-bowl method to practice portion management; two-thirds of your bowl should contain salad and protein, and one-third should contain your “favorite carbs.”
Protein is rich in satiety and so keeps you full for a longer period of time, but salads and vegetables are high in fiber and minerals and immediately fill you up. She noted that most of us often consume carbohydrates first when eating from a plate and bowl system. While carbohydrates are not harmful to you, she added, every meal should also have the right amount of protein and fat. According to Dehra, “this strategy will help you keep your portion in check and eat less unintentionally.”
