Incrementally-sized dishware system and method of using same for weight management

Abstract

An incrementally-sized dishware system and method for weight management gradually modifies food portion consumption behavior to provide healthier eating habits. The incrementally-sized dishware system and method includes a plurality of incrementally-sized plates having successively differentiated plate surface areas. Each of the incrementally-sized plate surface areas is successively different by an increment to modify food portion delivery to a user. When utilizing the incrementally-sized dishware system and method a user selects a starting plate surface area based on a combination of weight management factors, and over time successively shifts to plates having smaller/larger plate surface areas. Interval changes between the dishes of the incrementally-sized dishware system and method adjust the amount of food consumed and rate of weight loss over time. Children using the incrementally-sized dishware system and method learn to recognize an appropriate meal size for their body size and weight, and establish healthy eating habits that carry into adulthood.

1 . An incrementally-sized dishware system, comprising:
 a. a plurality of incrementally-sized plates having successively differentiated plate surface areas; and   b. said plate surface areas of each of said incrementally-sized plates being successively differentiated by an increment to modify food portion intake delivered to a user.   
   
   
       2 . An incrementally-sized dishware system as recited by  claim 1 , wherein said increment between successively differentiated plate widths of said plurality of incrementally-sized plates ranges from 1/16 inch to a 1 inch increments. 
   
   
       3 . An incrementally-sized dishware system as recited by  claim 2 , wherein said increment between successively differentiated plate widths of said plurality of incrementally-sized plates ranges from ⅛ inch to a ½ inch increments. 
   
   
       4 . An incrementally-sized dishware system as recited by  claim 2 , wherein said increment between successively differentiated plate widths of said plurality of incrementally-sized plates is ¼ inch. 
   
   
       5 . An incrementally-sized dishware system as recited by  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of incrementally-sized plates includes a first plate having a smallest plate width of 4 inches and a last plate having a largest plate width of at least 10 inches. 
   
   
       6 . An incrementally-sized dishware system as recited by  claim 1 , wherein said user shifts from using a starting plate selected from said incrementally-sized plates to a successive plate selected from said incrementally-sized plates at a designated time interval to correspondingly modify said food portion intake, and wherein said user continues to successively shift from plates within said incrementally-sized plates until said user reaches a goal food portion. 
   
   
       7 . An incrementally-sized dishware system as recited by  claim 6 , wherein said time interval ranges from once per day to once per month or longer, if needed. 
   
   
       8 . An incrementally-sized dishware system as recited by  claim 1 , comprising a chart that sets forth those plates, selected from said incrementally-sized plates, said user should utilize initially for a starting plate and ultimately as a goal plate size for long term use in order to maintain a desired weight, and said starting plate size and said goal plate size determination is based on combined factors, comprising the user's height, weight, gender, and activity level. 
   
   
       9 . An incrementally-sized dishware system as recited by  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of incrementally-sized bowls, salad plates and desert plates corresponding to each of said plurality of plates to form a plurality of incrementally-sized place settings. 
   
   
       10 . An incrementally-sized dishware system as recited by  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of incrementally-sized utensils for providing incrementally successively smaller bite delivery to said user. 
   
   
       11 . An incrementally-sized dishware system as recited by  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of incrementally-sized bowls, said bowls comprising side walls having a slope and being oriented in relation to a bowl bottom to form a bowl width. 
   
   
       12 . An incrementally-sized dishware system as recited by  claim 11 , wherein each of said bowls of said incrementally-sized bowls differs by said slope of said side walls and said bowl width to successively decrease food portion delivery. 
   
   
       13 . An incrementally-sized dishware system as recited by  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of incrementally-sized beverage containers. 
   
   
       14 . An incrementally-sized dishware system as recited by  claim 13 , wherein said incrementally-sized beverage containers are selected from a group consisting of glasses, cups, or mugs. 
   
   
       15 . An incrementally-sized dishware system as recited by  claim 13 , wherein each of said beverage containers of said incrementally-sized beverage containers successively decreases in height and/or width dimensions to reduce volume by an amount ranging from about 1 to 5 ounces, said volumetric reduction varying inversely with decreasing vessel dimensions, and producing a fluid ounce reduction for each incremental size differential of each of said beverage containers. 
   
   
       16 . An incrementally-sized dishware system as recited by  claim 13 , wherein each of said incrementally-sized beverage containers comprises a vessel having sides arranged with a slope in relation to a bottom, and said slope is changed to reduce volume by an amount ranging from about 1 to 5 ounces, said volumetric reduction varying inversely with the decreasing vessel size and producing a fluid ounce reduction for each incremental size differential of each of said beverage containers. 
   
   
       17 . An incrementally-sized dishware system as recited by  claim 1  comprising a plurality of incrementally-sized minor plates appointed to be used for lunch, dessert, salads, appetizers, or bread, said minor plates being optionally used to continue a downwardly incremented sequence of main plate size reductions to effect further weight loss objectives for children and/or adults who require a larger weight reduction. 
   
   
       18 . An incrementally-sized dishware system as recited by  claim 17 , wherein said smallest plate of said minor plates has a width of at least 4 inches and said largest plate of said minor plates has a width of at least 7 inches. 
   
   
       19 . An incrementally-sized dishware system as recited by  claim 1 , wherein each of said plates of said plurality of incrementally-sized plates include encouraging reinforcement indicia for motivating said user to shift to a successive plate of said plurality of incrementally-sized plates. 
   
   
       20 . An incrementally-sized dishware system as recited by  claim 1 , wherein each of said plates of said plurality of incrementally-sized plates has a standardized size based on a volumetric capacity range, and said standardized plate size is imprinted on the back of said plate to facilitate user identification. 
   
   
       21 . An incrementally-sized dishware system as recited by  claim 1  comprising a restaurant plate system wherein a plurality of incrementally-sized restaurant plates are provided with portion amounts that can be readily compared to said incrementally-sized plates so that said user can maintain his or her portion modification in a restaurant environment. 
   
   
       22 . An incrementally-sized dishware system as recited by  claim 1 , wherein said dishware comprises plates, bowls and drinkware having a round, oval, square, cylindrical, cubic or polygonal configuration. 
   
   
       23 . An incrementally-sized dishware system as recited by  claim 20 , further comprising a plurality of plate templates composed of a thin, food-safe material and having said standard dish size areas, said templates being available at a restaurant for use by a waiter to assure that a portion size of a meal being served does not exceed an amount that fits on the template, the remainder of the meal being packaged for a user to bring home. 
   
   
       24 . A weight management method comprising the steps of:
 a. selecting a starting plate by a user having a weight goal having a goal portion amount, said starting plate being selected from a plurality of incrementally-sized plates having successively decreasing plate surface areas, said plate surface areas of each of said incrementally-sized plates being successively different by an increment to modify food portion intake delivered to a user, and wherein said selection of said starting plate is determined based on at least one weight management factor;   b. utilizing said starting plate for a designated time interval in order to deliver a starting food portion amount to said user when eating;   c. adjusting said starting food portion amount by shifting to a successive plate selected from said incrementally-sized plates when said designated time interval is reached in order to deliver a successive food portion amount to said user when eating;   d. repeating said adjusting of said food portion amounts by continuously shifting to said successive plates selected from said incrementally-sized plates each time said designated time interval is reached;   e. gradually modifying said user's portion amounts until said user becomes accustomed to each portion amount and reaches said weight goal and correspondingly said goal portion amount, said goal portion amount being appointed to be delivered by a goal plate selected from said incrementally-sized plates based upon at least one of said weight management factors; and   f. maintaining said weight of said user by continuing to utilize said goal plate.