Monday, January 31, 2011

Portion Control On The Go

One of the biggest challenges I face with healthy eating is portion control.  I'm definitely a snacker and I know how easy it is to grab a handful of something and not even consider the fact that it may not even be close to a serving size.  And let's face it, we all assume that our 'little' handful is close enough to the serving size.  Well, it's probably not.  Since rejoining Weight Watchers, I've tried very hard to be conscious of my portion size.  It's not easy, but there are plenty of tools to help.  One of the biggest changes I've made it that I've started using one of these:
What a difference!  Let me tell you, that handful of tortilla chips was much closer to two servings than one.  I generally use this to measure out snacks and such.  I keep it right out on the counter near the snacks so I think to use it.  I also keep these handy:
I often eat my light ice cream right out of the half cup because that's what a serving size is!  Imagine that!  And doing this cuts down on the dishes.  This used to drive my mom nuts because the half cup measure was always dirty.  I use this for cereal, milk, pasta, cheese or whatever else a recipe calls for.  It's very easy to get carried away while cooking.  I recently found these in the grocery store:
 This offer a dual purpose.  First, they are a half cup, so I know exactly how much I'm having of something.  And second, the make things easier to grab and go.  For example, I made sugar-free, fat-free pudding and put them in these handy containers.  Then they're ready to go!  I've also been doing this with salads:
Once a week, I wash and cut my veggies and divide them up in to-go containers.  Then I measure in any little extras like cheese, walnuts, or craisins.  Having them ready to go during the week helps me make better choices for lunch.  I do this with fruit as well.  See, look how stocked our fridge is:
I'm finding that having the right tools handy and having healthy choices handy really helps.  How do you control your portions?

5 comments:

  1. Great job on the planning! That is key. I love the all the containers, my freezer is full of soup in those containers. :)

    And my 1/2 and 1/4 cup measuring cups are always dirty or drying...of course I have several sets too. :)

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  2. I'm kind of bad about portion control too. I love that idea of using containers that are portioned in cup sizes already. Very cool!

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  3. I need to get some of those containers. I weigh EVERYTHING. You might say I am mildly obsessed.

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  4. I measure most things that come out of a big bag/container. I say "most" because I don't do it all the time - only with things I tend to over eat. ...and I'm better about doing it at meal time rather than with snacks. I've hit a plateau with my weight loss though & actually measured EVERYTHING in my lunch box today (first time in a long time!)

    As bizarre as it sounds, I also rely on my husband a lot. He knows I don't have much control when it comes to portion sizes, so he dishes out many of our meals - he is much better at giving me what I "need" rather than what I "want"...I'd throw 1/2 a box of mac & cheese on my plate...he'll only give me 1 serving. I know this would drive some couples crazy, but it works for us!

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  5. When it comes to healthy things, like fruits and veggies, I don't tend to weigh or measure them. I do try to measure out my cereal, because I never pour the serving size, its always like double. I've also been tracking my food on livestrong, which helps me be more aware of what I am putting into my body.

    Your salads looks so tiny compared to the ones I make! Are those whole meals? I think I would starve.

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