How do you practice portion control?

qualitygal · ‎10-04-2010

Rather than put this under food, I felt it was probably better here.

I've seen the plates that are split up, but I wonder too if you measure your portions? Also, what other ways, at other times or places do you keep your portions under control?

I've read "portions" and "servings" are two different things, of course. So, how do you keep it under control by portion sizes?

AngelPuppy1 · ‎03-13-2010

I don't measure or anything. I just eye-ball things. After years and years of dieting, you kind of get a feel for it. I think if you're new to dieting, it's probably helpful to weigh and measure. But after awhile, you probably don't need to. I always make sure I have way more vegetables on my plate than I do meat and/or potatoes. I rarely eat bread. I love fruit but even a lot of that will make you gain. Having a little of everything and everything in moderation is the key. If you go out to eat and they give you a big or huge portion, immediately ask for a container and put half in it. That way, you won't be tempted to eat it all and you also have another nice meal to take home.

"A day without sunshine is like, you know, night." - Steve Martin

lolakimono · ‎03-29-2012

I use a salad plate as my dinner plate.

I love these containers from Lock & Lock- the perfect size for snacks. K39578

qualitygal · ‎10-04-2010

On 6/17/2014 lolakimono said:
I use a salad plate as my dinner plate.

I love these containers from Lock & Lock- the perfect size for snacks. K39578

I do both of those things too. When I do salad only for lunch I have used a regular sized plate, guess I'd better downsize that too. Thanks.

Desertdi · ‎03-13-2010

It's always been difficult for me. Usually (when I am alone) I just eat ONE ITEM per meal. All vegetables......or all protein........ It's difficult when eating out, since my "friends" always order a piece of cake, a milkshake, or something like fried onion rings FOR ME no matter how much I protest. I try and be "polite" and nibble or pick at it.....or take it in a doggie bag.................

♥Surface of the Sun♥

focksie · ‎03-04-2012

I eat most of my meals in a cereal bowl and my meals are mixtures or "stackings" of mostly vegetables, lean protein, and small amount of carbs. I believe if you eat on a big dinner plate, you will fill up that plate with food. Protein at every meal to fill me up.

StylishLady · ‎03-11-2010

I bought a nice digital scale that I often use to weigh items to keep portions and calories in check.

willdob3 · ‎11-01-2010

I know what I need to eat for my nutritional requirements - I'm losing fat/weight and working on maintaining muscle while I'm doing it. I eat only healthy foods & they satisfy me.

I do track my food but I started doing that because of a tendency to undereat when eating healthy. I now know how much I need to eat & that has become habit so I really don't need to think much about portion control anymore. Most foods I would tend to overeat are not healthy for me so I avoid them.

MargieRJ · ‎01-08-2014

I weigh or measure everything when I need to portion control. It's the only way I can keep myself from overeating when dieting. I don't trust myself to eyeball everything, although there are some tricks to use to judge portion sizes. For example, a fist is about the size of a portion of rice or pasta. The palm of your hand is the size of a meat portion. Your thumb is a portion of cheese (~ 1 oz).

meem120 · ‎03-09-2010

I have a hard time with this also. I have been trying the new WW Simple Start and you don't measure anything. They give you a list of acceptable foods to eat. Its a good program, especially if your tired of weighing and measuring. That being said after the first few weeks, weight loss for me was down to zilch!! So I thought portion control was the problem. Yes, I could go back to counting points, but with that I had a tendency to eat junk ….and use my points for that. Anyway, someone at my office was doing the Beachbody 21 day fix. She just fills up the containers they give you with the program with the approved foods, which is the same as WW SS. This seems to have given me a boost and the weight loss is steady at about a pound a week. I wasn't about to spend $60.00 for $1.00 worth of plastic containers, but if you go on Amazon and read the reviews they will tell you the size of the containers and U Tube will give you the amount of containers per day. Its easy and for awhile a good guideline for me. Anything that will help!!

I also use the app Lose It to track calories sometimes.