There are many instances when we are very used to placing two foods in combination. Here are some examples:
- Cheeseburger and fries
- Macaroni and cheese
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Chips and dips
- Brownie and ice cream
As you can see from the examples above, this not exactly like combining “lettuce and cucumbers” or “pickles and radishes”.
We are often ingrained in our eating behaviors by experiences in the past and many of us were raised with these standard “pairings” of food sources, both of which individually, derail our weight control efforts.
When dining out, these “pairings” are often the first line offering but there is often a “substitute” list as well. Often, you can order a salad as opposed to the fries, a vegetable instead of a potato, etc. These may come as a bit of an upcharge, but this is usually a nominal increase in price of the meal.
So, during your long-term weight control journey take a step back and see if food “pairings” are derailing your efforts and take the steps necessary to unpair (depair?) and switch to healthier choices altogether.
