Portion Control - Simplified

One of the key ways to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight is through portion control. According to WebMD, research has shown that Americans often underestimate how many calories they are consuming each day by as much as 25%.

A good guideline to help you understand portion sizes is to translate the abstract information represented by the serving size into something visual that's easily remembered. So instead of trying to memorize lists of ounces, cups and tablespoons, simply compare the service sizes of particular foods to familiar physical objects. For example, a single serving of:

• Fruit and vegetables is about the size of your fist
• Pasta is about the size of one scoop of ice cream
• Meat, fish or poultry is the size of a deck of cards or the size of your palm (minus the fingers)
• Snacks such as pretzels and chips is about the size of a cupped handful
• Potato is the size of a computer mouse
• Bagel is the size of a hockey puck
• Pancake is the size of a compact disc
• Cheese is the size of a pair of dice or the size of your wholethumb (from the tip to the base).