Health Coach Q & A
What links should I know about?
Lark is here to help!
Lark Customer Support!
https://support.lark.com/hc/en-us/requests/new
Facebook page for DPP
https://www.facebook.com/groups/larkdpp
Lark blog
Lark recipes
https://www.lark.com/resource-type/recipe
Email a Lark coach
Myplate meal planner
Restaurant portions are huge. Do they not also have more sugar?
You are right that restaurant portions are huge! They can have more sugar than at-home meals, but that’s not always the case. Here’s why.
The USDA reports that on a per-calorie basis, restaurant meals have less sugar. However, since restaurant meals are also typically higher in calories, they can end up higher in total sugar than a meal prepared at home.
Here are some sources of added sugars in restaurants.
- Sauces, dressings, condiments, and glazes
- Beverages
- Desserts
- Sides like coleslaw and baked beans
Here are ways to reduce your sugar consumption at restaurants.
- Ask for dressings and sauces on the side
- Choose grilled, baked, and steamed options that don’t have sauces
- Keep portions in check
- Drink ice water, sparkling water, or plain coffee or tea
Is anyone having trouble listing their meal with the chat coach on the Lark app? Can you help with the scale? It doesn’t seem accurate.
Those are good questions. You can always ask the experts - Lark Customer Support - for tips on food logging and anything else related to the app or devices like scales. Here’s the link to open a ticket.
https://support.lark.com/hc/en-us/requests/new
Is there anything filling and I can eat as much as possible?
Good question! Lots of people want to eat more without getting too many calories! Here are some low-calorie foods - but keep in mind that there probably aren’t any foods you can eat without limits. They do have some calories, and they take up space in your stomach, so it’s always good to be aware of amounts and limits.
Here are some lower-calorie foods.
- Non-starchy vegetables like lettuce, other leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, bell peppers, cucumbers, mushrooms, and cabbage. Have them raw, roasted, grilled, steamed, or air-fried
- Low-sodium broth or broth-based vegetable soup
- Berries and watermelon are slightly higher in calories, but also high in water
- Egg whites and tofu are also higher in calories, but they can be satisfying
For low-calorie flavor, try:
- Spices like garlic, paprika, cumin, or chili flakes
- Vinegar or lemon juice
- Yellow, deli, spicy brown, or Dijon mustard
Is it worth using an air fryer for cooking nowadays?
That’s a great question! Air fryers are popular now. They have a lot of potential benefits that can make them worthwhile for many people, though not everyone would want one.
One potential advantage is if you’re making crisp foods like crispy chicken or thinly sliced vegetables or potatoes, they can use less oil compared to frying those foods. This leads to lower fat intake and lower calorie consumption - which is good for weight management.
Another potential benefit of the air fryer is that it can help some people eat more healthily overall by encouraging you to cook at home instead of going out, or to make healthier food choices. This can happen if, for example, you find the air fryer easier to use compared to a stove or other appliances, so you cook at home instead of ordering in. Or, you might find that you enjoy vegetables from an air fryer, but not when you cook them using other methods.
Some people also prefer an air fryer because it’s more energy efficient than an oven (though it takes more energy than a microwave oven).
Some reasons people may not want an air fryer is that it’s another countertop appliance that takes up space. Also, it can be cumbersome to clean it after each use. An alternative is to use disposable liners, but those can be pricey, and they are not great for the environment.
