Downsizing

Before leaving for Tel Aviv, I checked my collection of newspaper clippings. I'm always browsing the papers for anything kosher and unusual in Tel Aviv.

Besides, I had just done really well with a newspaper article find – a reasonably priced child-sized chair designed to look nice among adult furniture. (And it was delivered to my doorstep half an hour after I ordered it!)

Among my clipped articles was a Purim ad from a bakery in the artsy neighborhood of Neveh Tzedek. חטאים מתוקים (Sweet Sins) has a gorgeous selection of cakes, cookies and pastries that do look sinful. With one difference – they're small.

Inspired by the pastry shops he had seen in France, the shop owner decided to replicate the idea here. The shelves were filled with boxes of miniature-sized cookies and pastries, many with an Israeli flair. Miniature filo rolls filled with dates, halvah cookies, and pastries made with pistachios, almonds and figs.

I'm not big on store-bought baked goods. Nor do I advocate eating a lot of sweets.

But a lot of us crave something sweet, at least once in awhile. Rather than cut out sweets altogether, I suggest eating just a "little something" that's really delicious.

Because cutting down on portion sizes really can help you lose weight. And a bite or two of something really delicious can be just as satisfying as a whole plate of something that tastes just "so-so".

Think about it the next time you bake cookies. Make those cookies you really enjoy, but make them smaller. Serve two small cookies to each person on a small-sized plate. (Japanese ceramic serving dishes are perfect for this.)

Here's another idea. When you make (or buy) a large batch of cookies, don't put them into your cookie jar. Portion them right away into small zip-lock bags and freeze them. You now have ready-made portion control.

Small portion sizes can be just as delicious as larger ones. And they really can make a difference when it comes to your own size.