Healthy Living Tips #2: Portion Control

Welcome to installment #2 of healthy living tips! This week we learned about portion control and I thought I would share a few pointers that might help you learn what a true portion size is. When eating out, it's hard to know exactly how much you are getting. Here are ways you can measure when you're out:

Our fist is equal to one medium fruit or one measured cup

Your palm minus the fingers is a 3 ounce portion of cooked meat

Your thumb (whole thumb, from tip to base) is equal to one ounce of meat or cheese

Your thumb from the tip to the first joint is about 1 tablespoon

Your index finger from the tip to the first joint is about 1 teaspoon

When you are at home, use measuring cups and spoons for cereal, milk, rice and pasta, mayonnaise, butter, oil, dressings, peanut butter, etc. If you have a nutritional scale, use it for meats (weigh after they are cooked), lunch meat, fish and even chips! You'll be surprised how many chips 1 ounce (which is one serving) really is! (Hint--it's not half the bag ;)