Understanding Serving Sizes vs. Portion Sizes

When we talk about food, it's important to know two terms: serving size and portion size.

• Serving Size: This is a fixed amount set by food companies. You can find it on nutrition labels. For example, a typical serving of ice cream is about half a cup. This helps everyone compare the nutrients in different foods easily.

• Portion Size: This is the amount of food that you actually put on your plate and eat at one time. It can change depending on how hungry you are. Sometimes, people might serve themselves one cup of ice cream, which is double the serving size!

Interesting Facts:

• Did you know that 70% of people think they eat less than they really do?
• Studies show that when portion sizes get bigger, people tend to eat more. On average, if the portion size increases, calorie intake can go up by 20% at each meal.

Understanding these differences can help us make better choices about how much we eat!