The pandemic has upended many aspects of our lives—and our diets and waistlines have not been immune. But there’s an easy way to manage healthy portions, and it’s as simple as getting a bit hands-on.
time to take control
Watching portion sizes is important for weight management and essential for weight loss. Portion control simply means working out just how much food you should be putting on your plate. It doesn’t mean saying no to any food group or keeping track of points.
Looking at portions is a simple way to manage your weight—certainly better than counting calories. There’s no need to over-focus on measuring down to the gram. It’s more about finding a healthy way to load up your plate with nutritious foods you love and that love you back. An easy way to get your portion sizes right is using your palms and fists.
gotta hand it to you
Pretty much every part of your hand can work when it comes to calculating portion size.
A fist represents about 1/2 to 1 cup, which is the perfect portion size when it comes to fruit, whole grains, pasta, or rice. So what about spuds? For starchy veggies, a fist or half a medium potato is a portion.
Two handfuls gives you a great guide to add plenty of fresh salad or non-starchy veggies. Always load your plate with these.
A cupped hand is the ideal 1-ounce snack size for nuts, dried fruit, or trail mix. It’s also a portion of soft cheese, such as cottage or ricotta cheeses.
Two cupped hands is perfect for legumes like chickpeas, beans, and lentils. It’s around 5 ounces.
A palm is the size to aim for when serving up plant proteins like tofu and tempeh, as well as meat alternatives (3.5 to 5 ounces).
Fingers. Yes, even your thumb and fingers can help you measure. A thumb is about two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, and your fingertip is a teaspoon for other oils and spread.
Always go for more extra virgin olive oil as the research shows big benefits for this healthy plant-based oil, including better brain health and reduced risk of stroke and type 2 diabetes.
extra tips about portion control
Use a small plate—It’s all mind over matter. A standard size portion will look small on a larger plate, making you feel less satisfied. A smaller plate will make your meal look more generous.
Go big on veggies. Fill half your plate with colorful, non-starchy veggies, such as dark, leafy greens, green beans, broccoli, mushrooms, and other salad veggies.
Say no to seconds. Put those leftovers in the fridge or freezer before you sit down to eat. That will reduce the temptation to go back for seconds.
The 20-minute rule. Eat slowly, so you have the chance to feel full. Eating slower is good for us because it takes time for mechanical and hormonal signals to reach the brain from the stomach to tell us we’re full.
A sweet treat. For those who crave a sweet treat after a meal, cut up fresh fruit before you sit down to eat so that you have something healthy ready to go.
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