We all know that to lose weight we need to eat healthier foods, but we also need to pay attention to portion size. Lots of restaurants serve delicious salads, but they are huge (and they also sneak in some high calorie ingredients between the greens).
As an example, Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad contains 1390 calories and 97 grams of fat! That is more than a steak with vegetables and a baked potato. It is even more than all of the burgers on their menu except one (the Quesadilla burger).
With Thanksgiving looming (along with its amazing spreads and delicious leftovers), I thought it would be a good time to share some tools to help gauge appropriate portion sizes.
SERVING UTENSILS
One of my favorite portion control aids is Weight Watchers serving utensils. I have an older version (simple black plastic spoons), but I want to upgrade to these elegant-looking ones. The set includes a 1/2-cup solid spoon, a 1/2-cup slotted spoon, and a 1/4-cup ladle. This way you know exactly how much you are putting on your plate, but your guests will have no idea you’re measuring every item.
CEREAL AND SNACK BOWLS
I love how inconspicuous the measurements are on these Snack-Trax bowls. They have lines indicating 1/3-cup, 2/3-cup, and 1-cup quantities making it easy to measure a serving of cereal, yogurt, brown rice, or veggies. They come in a two-pack and also include lids. Isn’t it nice how function can be so simple?
PORTION CONTROL CONTAINERS
You know I am a big fan of the 21-Day Fix and its colorful containers identifying the proper portion for each type of food. If you aren’t interested in the exercise program associated with it, you can purchase just the containers (also known as the Portion Fix). These take all of the guesswork out of knowing what to eat and exactly how much. I love them!
The containers from the 21-Day Fix are so popular, they have been imitated by other companies. The ones pictured above are made by Fit Simple. They are the same size as the ones included in the 21-Day Fix, and the colors even match the originals. I haven’t personally tried these, but they do offer a less expensive alternative to the original containers.
SNACKS & LEFTOVERS
These snack containers have marks indicating 1/4-cup, 1/2-cup, 3/4-cup, and 1 cup quantities. It makes it easy to pack snacks of just the right size, regardless of whether they are nuts, hummus, fruit, quinoa, or chicken. This colorful set of four by Fit & Fresh also comes with two ice-packs that fit in the lids.
ON-THE-GO
Even without measuring cups, measuring spoons, or special aids, you can work to estimate appropriate portion sizes using your hand and this Portion Estimator from Weight Watchers.
They are just estimates, but it shows how to use parts of your hand to represent measurements from a teaspoon to a tablespoon and from 1 ounce to 3 ounces to one cup.
Hopefully these items help you make portion control quick and simple. Enjoy!
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