The majority of women need fewer calories than men. For middle-aged women, because they have very little physical activity, they generally have the problem of consuming too many calories. In this regard, it is recommended that middle-aged women should eat more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat milk, and lean meat.
In a restaurant, people can enjoy the food while openly peeking at what others have ordered. The author has this habit. Once, she was dining in a Western restaurant and noticed at a nearby table: a waiter was serving a middle-aged couple. Because she wasn't sure which dish belonged to whom, she hesitated for a moment and placed the vegetarian dish in front of the woman and the beef in front of her husband. This shows that subconsciously, people are all aware of the differences in diet between men and women, and there are common dietary preferences.
In fact, that waiter was very smart: she didn't guess wrong. Men generally eat more meat and bread, while women eat more vegetables, yogurt, and fruit, and even when drinking soda, they choose the sugar-free kind. Gender differences also lead to dietary differences. Women chew their food slowly and spend more time eating than men. Once, a psychologist had a group of male and female volunteers read the food diaries of strangers and then make judgments based on them. Regardless of gender, they all came to the same conclusion about those who ate less for all three meals: the diarist should be a woman, and among those women, those who ate less were more concerned about their appearance and body shape than those who ate relatively more.
Indeed, women generally eat less, especially when they are dining with their male admirers. The author says she is long past that stage and doesn't need to deliberately reduce her food intake when eating with her husband, otherwise she would go hungry.
It is not surprising that women are more enthusiastic about dieting and weight loss, and are more dissatisfied with their weight and body shape. In a large survey, 23% of women with standard weight complained that they were overweight, while only 9% of men felt the same way. At the same time, among those who were actually overweight, 41% of men felt their weight was normal, while only 13% of women did. Men are more accepting of their weight and body shape, and therefore are more unrestrained when eating. Interestingly, however, the vast majority of women say that men prefer thinner women, but in reality, only a small percentage of men admit this.
Another theory is supported by physiology: the majority of women need fewer calories than men. For middle-aged women, because they have very little physical activity, they generally have the problem of consuming too many calories. In this regard, it is recommended that middle-aged women should eat more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat milk, and lean meat. Men burn more calories than women, so when the wife is hesitating whether to have dessert or drink red wine, the husband can proudly enjoy both. However, worldwide, women generally live about five years longer than men, and diet is one of the influencing factors.
Perhaps women are a bit too strict with themselves when it comes to diet, but at the same time, they are better at taking care of their health. 87% of women say they are responsible for all three meals for the entire family at home, and every dish in the kitchen goes through their hands. Men just sit back and enjoy the benefits, and also reap the rewards. The author's friend said that her husband eats junk food at the company, and only eats healthier food when he gets home. Also, her other friend likes sweets, but her husband hates sweet food, so subtly, her friend is also not so enthusiastic about sweets anymore.
The vast majority of husbands and sons at home seek convenience and just enjoy the food. If the wife washes the grapes and puts them on the table, they will be finished by the husband and children in no time. But if these grapes are put in a bag in the refrigerator, they might not touch them for several weeks. So, prepare healthy foods: fruits, cheese, carrots, etc., and place them in a conspicuous place. Slowly, this will cultivate healthy eating habits for the family.
A family gathering together, chatting and laughing, making some harmless teasing remarks while enjoying dinner, can be called a golden time for lovers. The author says that sometimes she teases her husband for being too focused on nutrition and too cautious. Her husband lets her know that food is not just about nutrition and calories; being too focused on the result反而 loses the enjoyment of the process of savoring food.