Knowing the difference between a serving size and portion size is important for the health conscious, but the reality is, most people don’t know the difference.
Do you?
The sad truth is that many people eat a considerable amount more than is necessary to get their daily nutrients and calories. One of the main culprits for overeating is portion size.
Serving size refers to the suggested serving on a food manufacturer’s label, and a portion size refers to the amount of food we choose to eat. Often we ignore the suggested serving size on a product and wind up eating double or triple the amount for a variety of reasons, whether we think that’s what the portion should be, or we’re eating out of boredom, sadness, etc.
But to maintain optimal health, it is important to be more mindful of portion control, and one way to do that is to consider eating closer to the determined serving size.
Here are some portion recommendations for a few common foods:
-1 slice of bread
-½ cup rice or pasta (cooked)
-1 small piece of fruit
-¾ cup fruit juice
-1 cup milk or yogurt
-2 oz. cheese
-2-3 oz. meat, poultry, or fish (this is about the size of a deck of cards)
Does any of this surprise you?
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