MyPlate paints the ideal picture of dividing your plate by color to figure the proper proportion of food on a single plate. Europeans believe in eating small amounts of really good food. Some vegetarians don't eat meat, but occasionally succumb to the temptation of bacon.
The best of all these approaches is the tiniest of plates, a special "bacon plate" even if that means more dishwasher loads.
Small amounts of well-grown bacon can add wonders to a meal. It's not just for breakfast: a small container of bacon can make that vegetable easier to swallow or the boring egg-white omelet seem more palatable. (Just eat the yolks. Seriously. You'll be fine.)
Use the MyPlate system for the rest of the food but add a small container of bacon on the side.
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Before you start imaging a world where a small container of bacon is filled with 3-4 slices, imagine more like a slice of cooked bacon off to the side. Or even ½ slice of bacon alongside your meal.
A slice of bacon by itself does look pretty small. However, if you cut the bacon into small pieces, like the fancy chefs do on the Cooking Channel and Food Network, that single slice of bacon comes in several parts.
You end up with several "pieces" of bacon. Slices are no longer a measurement of bacon. Having several smaller pieces makes you feel like you are eating more bacon than you are. If you are using really good bacon, you'll get more meat flavor for relatively few calories.
You could put that bacon into a salad, but too often, the taste of bacon is lost in a dish. We are so excited to learn bacon is in a dish but too often, the feeling of bacon comes up short. Better to eat that bacon by itself than to waste it in a dish.
If bacon horrifies you, take the suggestion and apply it to something you like that, in copious amounts, otherwise wouldn't be smart. Or you can try something that excites your palate but in a small amount. The idea is to have a small splash of taste for your mouth.
People want nutrition and taste. They should go together in a lot of foods, but for some, this is more of a battle. A small amount of bacon can guide people to eat better with a little culinary incentive. We should eat well but sadly menus are often prepared based on fun. Bacon is fun. A little bit of bacon can also be fun. If done properly, reduced amounts of bacon can still provide fun and flavor in an overall balanced diet.
photo credit: here
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