Understanding Portion Sizes for Better Health
Being aware of how much we eat is really important for our health, especially in the long run. When we know the right serving sizes and control our portions, we can have a big impact on our weight, energy, and the chance of getting some diseases.
Avoiding Overeating: If you fill your plate too much, it’s easy to eat more calories than you really need. For example, if you normally eat 400 calories, but the large plate you served yourself has 600 calories, that extra 200 calories can add up over time, leading to weight gain.
Eating Nutritiously: Learning to judge portion sizes helps you eat a balanced diet. Sometimes, restaurants serve pasta that has more than 1,000 calories! If you know that a good serving is about 1 cup (or the size of your fist), you can eat less and add some veggies for a healthier meal.
Use Visuals: You can use your hand to help measure. For protein, a portion should be about the size of your palm. For carbs, use your cupped hand to measure how much you should have.
Eat Mindfully: Pay attention to your food. Take your time while you eat, enjoy each bite, and check if you're still hungry.
Plan Your Meals: Think ahead about what you’ll eat. Packing meals in containers with the right portions before you get hungry makes it easier to keep your portions in check.
Being aware of portion sizes not only helps your health right now, but it also sets the stage for healthy eating habits in the future. Your future self will be grateful for the good choices you make today!
Understanding Portion Sizes for Better Health
Being aware of how much we eat is really important for our health, especially in the long run. When we know the right serving sizes and control our portions, we can have a big impact on our weight, energy, and the chance of getting some diseases.
Avoiding Overeating: If you fill your plate too much, it’s easy to eat more calories than you really need. For example, if you normally eat 400 calories, but the large plate you served yourself has 600 calories, that extra 200 calories can add up over time, leading to weight gain.
Eating Nutritiously: Learning to judge portion sizes helps you eat a balanced diet. Sometimes, restaurants serve pasta that has more than 1,000 calories! If you know that a good serving is about 1 cup (or the size of your fist), you can eat less and add some veggies for a healthier meal.
Use Visuals: You can use your hand to help measure. For protein, a portion should be about the size of your palm. For carbs, use your cupped hand to measure how much you should have.
Eat Mindfully: Pay attention to your food. Take your time while you eat, enjoy each bite, and check if you're still hungry.
Plan Your Meals: Think ahead about what you’ll eat. Packing meals in containers with the right portions before you get hungry makes it easier to keep your portions in check.
Being aware of portion sizes not only helps your health right now, but it also sets the stage for healthy eating habits in the future. Your future self will be grateful for the good choices you make today!