What’s The Difference Between Portion Size And Serving Size?

If you read the nutritional facts on the back of any box of food, it gives you the serving size and the calories and nutrients in one serving. While it’s not exact, it’s pretty close to it. Portion size is completely different. It’s the amount you’re served and choose to eat. Portion sizes vary from person to person. They even vary from generation to generation. Portion sizes have grown. People eat an average of 300 calories more a day than they did 35 years ago.

Serving size is a way to measure nutrients.

Packaging provides serving size as a way to compare calories and nutrients. Fifteen chips is the serving size and close to the number of chips in an individual bag of chips. It’s also fifteen chips if you’re eating from a family-size bag, but most people eat more. When it comes to snacking, if there’s plenty of food available, each person’s portion size will be different.

Meal planning is effective because you pack food in serving sizes.

If you aren’t familiar with meal planning, it’s the process of planning meals one day, shopping the next, and cooking the week’s meals on a third day. Divide the food into serving sizes and either refrigerate it or freeze it for later. When you’re ready to eat, just heat and serve. People use meal planning to help them eat healthier, lose weight, and save money and time. When you allocate the portions to serving sizes ahead of time, you don’t have to worry when you eat. We provide nutritional help that makes meal planning easier.

Restaurants had to compete with others for business.

One reason people are eating an average of 300 calories more a day is because restaurants serve bigger portion sizes. It’s one of the big draws for “mom-and-pop” restaurants. If you eat in a restaurant with large portions, share a meal if possible. Otherwise, eat half and save the rest for the next day. Understanding how to gauge a serving size without a measuring cup or scales helps. For instance, a serving size for meat is the size of a deck of cards, and a serving size for cheese is the size of four stacked dice.

• Learn what constitutes serving sizes for each food group. For dairy, one ounce of cheese, a cup of milk, or a cup of yogurt is one serving.
• You can increase the serving size or number of servings for salads and cooked vegetables without added sauce. These foods fill you up and are high in nutrients but low in calories.
• If your portion size is far larger than the serving size and you’re determined to eat less, eat slower. Take smaller bites and chew each bite thoroughly, savoring the texture and flavor. The extra time it takes gives your stomach a chance to signal to the brain that it’s full.
• Buy or make snacks in bulk and package them in individual serving sizes. Snacks are an important part of your diet and can help you lose weight. They help prevent overeating at the next meal.

For more information, contact us today at Thrive Fitness!