Serving sizes are really important when it comes to eating healthy. Knowing how much food to eat can help stop overeating and help you keep a balanced diet.

Some Facts About Portion Control:

• Research shows that when we eat bigger portions, we usually take in more calories. One study found that if serving sizes go up by just 25%, people can end up eating an extra 120 calories at each meal without even realizing it.
• The American Heart Association says that knowing the right serving sizes can help people stick to healthy eating guidelines. These guidelines suggest different portion sizes based on things like age, gender, and how active you are.

How It Affects Weight Management:

• The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) says that adults should aim to eat between 1,800 to 2,400 calories each day, based on how much they move around. Managing your calories can really help with keeping a healthy weight.
• For example, if a typical person eats just 100 extra calories every day, that could lead to a weight gain of about 10 pounds in a year!

Why Food Labels Matter:

• Food labels are super helpful because they tell us the proper serving sizes. However, studies show that 58% of people don’t even read these labels. Knowing about serving sizes can help you make better choices about what you eat and improve your nutrition.

Using the right serving sizes in your meals is key to reaching and keeping your healthy eating goals.