The power of portion control

The secret to losing weight (and keeping it off) may be in the bag: Lighter lunches can help you shed pounds, says a study by Cornell University .

It found smaller daytime meals can help cut total daily food intake by 250 calories. The study’s participants ate modest lunches for two weeks or got free rein at a buffet — then switched. When they ate the lighter meals, they lost an average of 1.1 pounds. This means that “contrary to popular belief, eating a little less at one meal doesn’t mean you’ll overeat at the next,” says lead researcher David A. Levitsky.

A great gift idea: Lunch pot, $25, Black-Blum.