Cut the fat with these six steps

If you like tangible steps for cutting the fat in your life, this post is for you. It's loaded with nuggets of information on the nutritional hazards we face every day. Take note, take action, and you'll be on your way to more healthful living.

• One study found that women ate 25 percent less candy when it was tucked away in a drawer than when it was on their desks. Experts say you should store candy in opaque containers or on an out-of-the-way shelf. I say don't store candy at all -- that way, you won't be able to grab it. If you truly need a bite of the sweet stuff, buy a single serving.
  
  

• Another study found that people eat 22 percent more in the same amount of time when food is served in larger packages. So avoid those bulk containers and you're likely to not overdo it.
  
  

• Microwaving might make you hungrier than actual cooking. Alan Hirsch, M.D., director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, found that smelling food during cooking can make you more satisfied and can lead you to eat less once your meal hits the table. If you're still not up for cooking, pop that microwave dinner in the oven to cook.
  
  

• Like those trendy, bigger utensils now on the market? You might want to forgo fashion for function because the bigger the silverware, the more we eat. "People who eat with smaller spoons tend to feel more satisfied after one serving than those who use bigger silverware," says Illinois food researcher James Painter, Ph.D.
  
  

• There's more to the placement of grocery store food items than you might think. Companies pay for prime real estate in supermarkets, and the products right in front of your face tend to be the high-profit, cheaper-to-produce stuff like sugary cereals and processed carbohydrates. Next time you're wandering the aisles, look up -- the healthiest foods are usually stocked on the top shelves.
  
  

• Don't look at the center shelves on your next grocery adventure. Center aisles are home to processed snacks and sweets. Stick with the outer walls of the store, where the most nutritious fruits, veggies, dairy, and meats live.