Little Bites
by Barbara Jean Briskey

“Sixteen hundred,” she said dryly. I was standing on a scale, and even in the panic of the moment with my middle-aged heart already in my throat, I knew that number could not possibly be what I weighed. I looked incredulously at the nurse practitioner and calmly asked what she meant by that.

“Calories per day,” she responded, “to not get fat at your age.” Oh. Something in me, specifically the part around the middle that adored stretch denim and thought reverse curls should pertain only to shaved chocolate on a cake, recognized that she spoke the truth. “Our metabolism naturally slows as we get older, so we can’t eat as much. You’re in good shape, but you will have to either increase exercise or decrease what you eat. Otherwise….” Her voice trailed off as she puffed her cheeks like a blowfish, doubled her chin, and moved her hands out wide to signify the ever-expanding body I would get if I didn’t heed her words.

OK, point taken. An honest tally revealed numbers that made 1600 look meager. I wasn’t sure how to manage this dilemma without giving up great food and the occasional drink. No matter how I counted it, the numbers kept busting through the 1600 ceiling without some changes.

My brain churned for days, and lots of ideas occurred to me. Little bites, with lots of vegetables. Graze like a toddler, but try whatever is healthy and delicious (and no tantrums over food). Enjoy that martini but treat it like the bulk of a meal. Drink wine with dinner, savoring each taste between bites of food on a beautiful little plate. No seconds, unless you really need them (I am mature enough lately to channel the voice of my father and perceive it as helpful). Whites—bread, pasta, rice, potatoes—rarely. A tiny cup of tamari almonds, a never-ending cup of tea, and fruit for snacks at work. Eat small bits of dark chocolate. And take a bite or two of dessert—enjoy it on a plate with tea.

So how do these ideas play out? They work pretty well. It helps to use small plates, and small glasses for non-water beverages. Striving for 1600 reminded me that when my children were little, we had “Holy Cow For Dinner” night once a week. Not only did I not have to cook, the children were very happy and seemed to be well nourished. While I suspected at the time that I was rationalizing by counting the food groups in my beloved chocolate yogurt sundae, at least part of the theory was sound: the amount of energy (calories) in a banana split or a sundae was enough for a dinner.

In addition to Holy Cow, local restaurants have been helpful. A small lemon drop martini at Flatiron Grille is a perfect dinner combined with the sweet potato and goat cheese fritters with arugula appetizer. A glass of Montepulciano at Gigi’s satisfies when paired with a slice of shared skizza and broccoli rabe. Terrapin’s tapas—a perfect lamb chop and a small salad—make a lovely meal with water or wine. Taste Budds serves a great curried chicken salad that is delicious with cappuccino for dessert. Bread Alone’s soups taste homemade, and come with a hearty whole-wheat roll. The Red Hook Curry House has two buffet nights each week (a bargain even when using the small plate), with several selections of tasty bites with lots of vegetables.

There’s been little suffering for 1600. It really can feel like abundance with the smaller cup overflowing and a full little plate. I am determined to thoroughly enjoy these little bites. Given the alternative, this is one part of middle age that it pays to adapt to!