PACK YOUR FOODS SO YOU DON’T PACK
ON THE POUNDS
It’s not just what Blue Zoners eat, but how they eat that makes a difference.
For example, their meals are essentially gorge-proof because their portions
are small. One of the reasons? People carried their meals to work, so they
couldn’t bring a seven-course extravaganza.
I didn’t even know it, but I practised this Blue Zone technique early in
my career. When I was first starting out at Columbia University, I rode my
bike to work. It was much easier than driving in New York City traffic. I
brought my lunch with me. Anything I wanted to eat I would have to carry,
which meant I packed lightly. Small portions, by necessity.
Blue Zone eating habits—while all healthy—were automatic. It’s how
they lived. They didn’t waste valuable mental energy figuring out what
they were going to have morning, noon, and night. Packing light on the
way to a place where there were no vending machines or food courts was
natural and meant they would eat light as well. Automation was their