No one got fat by eating a cookie or a donut; people got fat because they ate an entire pack of cookies or a dozen donuts. No food is really bad for you if it is had in moderation; however overindulging in even seemingly innocent grapes can lead to a sugar rush and calorie imbalance.

Therefore in order to lose weight and keep it off for life, food portion control is crucial for dieting. This is because not knowing how much food is enough for you can lead you on the way to Fatville once again.

Measuring Cups

When you are in the weight loss phase of your program, food portion control for dieting is crucial. On Weight Watchers, for instance, you get a points value for one cup of cereal. However one cup in reality is actually far less than the one bowl of cereal we are used to. Similarly, one cup of milk also is much less than one mug or tall glass of milk. Therefore, buy a set of measuring cups or jug and use it religiously at least in the beginning. After a few weeks of measuring your one cup of cereal, you will start to realize that the bowl you use to fill is actually around three cups!

Visual Cues

Some people prefer visual cues like an average serving size of meat should be the size of a deck of cards and that a reasonable size of fruit like an apple should be the size of a tennis ball. Having such cues in mind can help you choose the right food portion size when dieting. It also helps when you eat outside your home and can not take your trusted measuring cups with you to a fancy restaurant on your anniversary!

Nutritional Labels

We are lucky to live in a country where manufacturers are required by law to state the nutritional value of the food product and its recommended serving size on the package. It is up to us to read the information provided to us. People do look out for the fat and carb content; but overlook what the normal serving size actually is!

If you are a fan of Frito Lay’s flamin’ hot cheetos for instance, did you know that a single serving is just 21 pieces? For any cheeto lover, that is a drop in the ocean. If you save money by buying in bulk, you could either separate around 21 pieces in Ziploc baggies or you can buy small single-serve packs to begin with. Otherwise helping yourself from a ‘value size 30 % more’ bag just makes it difficult to know when to stop. This just proves that food portion control holds the key to a successful diet.

Eating Out

When eating out at a restaurant that is notorious for generous (read large) helpings, ask for half your entrée to be packed before it is bought out to you. This is an important dieting food portion control tip as this way you can enjoy restaurant quality food for lunch the next day. Always order a large garden salad and drink up your water before the meal arrives so you can enjoy it but not stuff yourself.

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