Portion control can be weight-loss turning point
October 27, 2004
By Courtnie Shatwell
Weight loss has more to do with portion control than most people give it credit. It's not about eating the right combinations of foods, foods based on your blood type or foods eaten at a certain time. What it's really all about is how much food is consumed.
People tend to forget about that tiny little detail
when dealing with weight loss. Often portion control
can be the turning point for a person trying to lose
weight. It can be more important than trying to
memorize a list of "good" foods or "bad"
foods. All foods are acceptable in a healthy diet, as
long as the portions are moderated.
So what exactly is a portion? It depends on the food you're eating. For example, a portion of meat is about 3 oz, or the size of a deck of cards.
A restaurant portion may be three to five times the recommended portion size, which means three to five times the calories. A portion of dairy is eight ounces of milk or yogurt, or 1.5 ounces of cheese, about the size of two dominos.
A portion of most fruits is about 1/2 cup, or something the size of a tennis ball. Leafy vegetables weigh in at 1 cup, or the size of a light bulb.
Finally, a portion of grains is about 1/2 cup - for pasta, rice or oats, that's the size of an ice cream scoop. One slice of bread and 1/2 of a hamburger bun or english muffin is equal to one portion.
So, whether you're trying to lose weight or just eat smarter, it's time to pull out those measuring cups and start using them as your serving spoons.
You just might be amazed at how much you really eat.
Source:www.billingsgazette.com
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