How to measure food portions to lose weight

If you eat the whole bag, your portion size is 6 cups—double the serving size and double the nutrition values. Similarly, the recommended serving size of grapes is 1 cup or roughly 16 grapes. Unless you count out the grapes to measure your portion against the serving size, this low-calorie food could quickly increase your carb intake well beyond your intended daily limit. Unless you have the reference values and make the appropriate adjustments—such as inputting eight grapes as a half-portion or 20 grapes as a 1.

Getting the Portion Sizes Correct for a Weight-Loss Diet Plan

There is no right or wrong amount of specific food to eat when you want to lose weight. The proper portion sizes of food are the portions that allow you to fuel your body with energy and nutrients and feel satisfied. Unlike serving size, the portion size should be calculated based on how many calories you plan to consume in a day. You would then plan your menus by calculating how much of a certain food you can eat to remain within that limit.

The ultimate aim of any weight loss plan is to consume fewer calories than your body utilizes to remain at your current weight. However, you need to do so without depriving yourself of important nutrients, including healthy fats and carbohydrates.


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As such, portion sizes can vary as long as nutritional needs are met. To determine your correct portion sizes, use a weight loss calculator to determine how many calories you need to consume daily to lose weight. The calculation is based on your age, sex, height, current weight, activity level, weight loss goal, and intended weight loss date. Your goal would then be to strategically design menus around those dietary constraints, selecting not only the foods you can eat but how much you can eat.

How to Measure Food Portions with Your Hand

Those are your portion sizes. Oftentimes, it helps to work with a licensed nutritionist when first starting to ensure that the diet plan is safe and meets your daily nutritional goals. Once you know how much to eat, you may need to take extra steps to ensure the portion sizes are accurate. There is no question that weight loss requires insight, preparation, and discipline. By establishing good habits from the start, you are more likely to reach your fitness goals and develop healthy eating habits without unneeded stress or anxiety.

Looking to lose weight? Our nutrition guide can help you get on the right track. Sign up and get it free! Rolls BJ. What is the role of portion control in weight management?

How To Portion Control For Weight Loss (Without Starving!)

Int J Obes. Department of Health and Human Services. Academy of Nutrition and Diatetics. Serving Size vs. Portion Size: Is There a Difference? Chicago, Illinois; issued March 20, Table of Contents View All. Portion Size vs. Serving Size. Calculating Portion Sizes. A key aspect of tracking is accurately figuring out how much food and drink you've consumed. If you don't measure your portions you'll often underestimate how much you are taking in. If you are trying to lose weight this can lead to frustration and lack of progress.

Figuring out portions of commonly consumed foods such as bread or crackers where the serving size is listed on the package, is straight forward. However, what about figuring out portions of pasta, meat, peanut butter and oils? This article delves into the details around how to calculate the portion size of foods and drinks with specifics around weighing, measuring and estimating food portions for weight loss. Weighing is the most accurate way to measure or calculate portion size.

You can purchase a kitchen scale at most big box stores or online. We suggest investing in a digital scale as opposed to an old fashioned spring-loaded scale. The digital scales are easier to use and more accurate. With a digital scale, you can easily zero out the weight of the container as well as select different units of measure e.


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Serious about losing weight? Check out MyNetDiary and start weighing your food! Another approach to calculating portion size is to use measuring cups and spoons or a glass measuring cup to figure out volume e. These items can be purchased at big box stores or online. When measuring a liquid, it is easier, more accurate, and less messy if you use a measuring cup designed for liquids.

See below for an example of this type of measuring cup. When measuring the volume of a solid e. Level off the contents with the flat side of a knife to get an accurate measurement. Use metal or plastic measuring cups, whichever you prefer. Standard measuring cups look like those shown in the photo below. For measuring very small amounts of liquids or solids, you can use measuring spoons. Level off solids with the flat side of a knife. Use metal or plastic measuring spoons - whichever you prefer. They look like the ones shown in the photo below.

WHY IS PORTION CONTROL IMPORTANT?

Buy several sets of measuring cups and spoons. That way, you always have one clean and ready for measuring. If you have already started recording your intake, then you know how difficult it is to estimate portion size. MyNetDiary created a Portion Guide to aid in the process. Look for the open book icon see example below when tracking to access the guide.

Measuring and estimating portion sizes

Tip: Metric system is available for weight, length and volume measurements. This card displays portion size using familiar objects. See below for a quick summary. Tip: We tend to serve ourselves more food when we use larger dishes and less food when we use smaller dishes. If you are trying to lose weight, consider using smaller plates and bowls if you are not able to measure your portion size. Some foods are so high in calories that an error in portion size means a large error in calories intake.

If you are focusing on selecting portions for weight loss this can translate to unexpected calorie intake and potentially impact your weight loss. Let's be honest. If you consume foods straight out of the original packaging, then you have no idea how much you have eaten unless you eat the entire package.