Confessions of a dietitian

In my house, when it comes to sweets, we lack willpower. More specifically, our weakness is baked goods. Before children, Ed and I would nearly finish an 8"x 8" pan of brownies in an evening. Now that we have children, we have them to help us!

But, like most parents, we tell the kids no more brownies, while we sneak them.

One day I told Lilly to stop eat brownies. She responded exasperatedly, "But they are so good, I just can't stop thinking about them!" Oh, how I felt her pain. I have the same problem with baked goods and store bought goodies. To solve this problem, I mainly bake for special occasions and rarely buy cookies. If they aren't there, I won't think about them.

Decreasing the availability of weaknesses applies to more than baked goods. For some, the weakness is bread, for others it's chips, and others soda. If you don't buy it, chances are, you won't even think about it. Eventually, you won't even miss it. And if you do think about it, who wants to run to the store in their pajamas at 10 p.m.?

A great substitute for evening snacking is 94% fat free popcorn. Not only does it make a great snack and take longer to eat, but it's also a whole grain food! If there is no one to share popcorn with, try single serving bags.

As the main grocery shopper and cook in the house, I have control over what comes in. If someone starts mindlessly eating something like cereal, crackers, or peanuts, I stop buying it for a few weeks. No one seems to notice when it's not there. I am not doing this to micromanage food intake -- OK, so maybe just a little -- but rather I'm taking away the urge to mindlessly snack.

From my grocery list to yours, what will you have the strength to stop buying? Consider the savings an investment in your health.

From Worthington, Tracey is a Registered Dietitian. She currently lives in Arlington, Va., with her husband, Ed and three children, Lilly, Charlie, and Kate. For recipes, menu ideas, articles, and more, follow her on Facebook at Tracey Linneweber, RD. The information contained in this blog is not meant to substitute for your physician's advice.