Portion Control Guide

When you are trying to lose weight, how much you eat is just as important as what you eat - that's why we have put together this potion control guide for you. It's usually a good idea to eat smaller  portions of a wide variety of different foods throughout the day. You can even work in the occasional treat or favorite  food as long as it's done in moderation and small amounts. 

Our feel for what an adequate portion of any given dish is has been distorted by restaurants who will serve up to 5 portions on one plate. The result is that we are under the impression that a portion of steak or fries is much more than it actually  is. This guide will help you get a better understand for how much you should be eating and how you  can start watching your portions.

The first thing you can do is to simply slow down. Take your time when you eat to give your stomach the time it needs to signal to your brain that you are full. This process can actually take up to 20 minutes. Eating fast and not paying attention to the fact that we are starting to feel satisfied leads us to overeat to a point where we feel we could burst. Pay attention to what your body is telling you and give your brain some time to register that you had enough food by eating more slowly.

Here's another great tips to help you as part of our portion control guide. We call it the portion plate, and you can do it with virtually any plate, anywhere. Mentally divide the plate you are looking at in half and fill the first half with salad or vegetables. Next take the second half and divide it again. One of the halves will be for one portion of carbohydrates, the other half will be for protein. Your carbohydrates will include dishes such as rice, pasta or potatoes, the protein portion can include beef, pork, chicken eggs and even beans or tofu.

This dividing of the types of foods you eat is an important part of the portion control guide. Remember half your meal should consist of salad and veggies, then add equal portions of carbs and proteins.

Keep a visual image of what your plate should look like anytime you choose or prepare a meal. If you’re just having a chicken sandwich for example remember the chicken serving should ideally fit into that quarter of the plate, add two slices of bread and fill up the rest with fresh salad or veggies.

This is by far the easiest way to control your portion size and if you do this with your three daily meals and replace junk food snacks with healthier options such as fruit and low fat yogurt, you are almost guaranteed to loose weight without having to follow any strict diet regimen. Still not sure, give yourself a few days to try it and see the great results for yourself.
 

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