Celebrity dietitian Rujuta Diwekar, who has worked with actor Kareena Kapoor Khan, recently shared on Instagram a quick and quirky way to put an end to mindless eating—the Jordan Formula. As explained by Diwekar, this technique allows people to indulge in food without guilt through awareness of portion control in a memorable, odd-numbered format.
The Jordan Formula of Eating
She used the example of having sabudana vada with chutney to explain the concept. “Have one on your plate and eat the second only if you are certain you can also eat a third.” “If you cannot eat the third, then don’t attempt the second.” The reasoning goes on: if you feel like a fourth, ask yourself if you would be able to eat a fifth. If the fifth would be too much, you’ll stop at three.
Diwekar reinforced the fact that the Jordan Formula is a matter of not matching up even with your portions—stick with odd numbers such as 1, 3, or 5. She explains that this technique can prevent overeating and encourage better food choices
Experts Weigh In: A Helpful Cue or a Distracting Rule
To get the science behind the Jordan Formula, registered diabetes educator and dietitian Kanikka Malhotra provided a more detailed explanation. When asked about the Jordan formula by The Indian Express, she stated that whereas the formula might serve as a sharp trick of the mind, its real effectiveness relies on how effectively it assists individuals in tuning into their internal hunger and fullness signals.
“Mindful eating is centered on listening to the cues of your body, rather than following external rules,” Malhotra said. Although the odd-number rule might bring about awareness at first, she cautioned that it could easily divert attention from actual hunger to mere compliance with a pattern.
Actual mindful eating, Malhotra added, entails such aids as hunger/fullness scales, slow eating, using all senses, and eliminating distractions. These techniques enable long-term health by fostering a balanced and sustainable style of eating.
