Most people have certain foods that are especially easy to overeat. That doesn’t mean those foods have to be completely off limits, but it does mean a little planning can make them much easier to manage.

One of the best MacroRx+ habits is our Golden Rule:

Log it before you eat it.

Before you open the package, order the meal, or start eating, put the food and the portion you plan to eat into MyFitnessPal. Look at how it fits into your calorie and macro prescription while you still have the opportunity to make a different decision.

If it’s a food you tend to keep eating once you start, portion it before you begin. Weigh or measure the amount you intend to eat, put the original container away, and eat from your portion rather than directly from the bag, box, or container.

Your environment matters too. You don’t have to prove your willpower by keeping unlimited amounts of a particularly tempting food within reach. Buying smaller quantities, individual portions, or simply not keeping certain foods around all the time can make consistency much easier.

Also pay attention to how hungry you are when you encounter these foods. Waiting until you’re extremely hungry can make portion control much harder. Regular meals containing adequate protein, fiber, and satisfying foods can make those decisions easier.

And remember that MacroRx+ doesn’t require you to eliminate foods you enjoy. Sometimes making room for a reasonable portion intentionally works much better than declaring a food forbidden and then eventually overeating it.

If you repeatedly feel out of control around a particular food, find yourself eating unusually large amounts, or feel unable to stop even when you want to, talk with your coach. That’s different from simply enjoying a food or occasionally eating more than you planned, and it deserves a thoughtful approach rather than more restriction.

Don’t rely on willpower alone. Plan the portion, log it before you eat it, and make the easier choice easier to make.