The Hand Method for Portion Control

by Mary Anne | More from this Blogger

18 Jan 2006 02:00 PM

Who Knew It Was In the Palm of Our Hands?

These days, portions of food are getting larger and are bigger than ever. Fast food restaurants serve bigger meals for just a few cents extra, and even regular restaurants serve humongous portions that most people could feast on for a week.

As we know all too well, too many calories consumed at one single pig-out session usually causes our bodies to store the excess calories as fat, and there you go, we're putting on weight.

When I first started my big diet, I measured every single solitary thing that I ate on a scale or measuring cup to make sure I was getting the correct portion. Ask anyone who has been successful at sustaining and maintaining weight loss, and they'll definitely mention portion control as one of their main secrets to success. So how can we measure portions if we're out at a restaurant, at a get together at a friends house, or just tired of measuring our food?

Meet the "Hand Method." The hand method is used to ensure that you are eating portions relative to your body size. Since you base your meal size comparatively to the size of your hand, men will more likely be eating a larger portion than that of women (lucky devils!). While this method is only an approximation (nothing can be as accurate as a scale), it helps us to keep our portions of reasonable size, and serves as a good gauge for how much to eat when we're away from home. I mean who wants to bring a scale to a restaurant?

Some "Hand Method" Tips

• A serving of protein should be about the size of the palm of your hand
• Eat a salad that is the size of both hands put together
• Green vegetables should be the size of about two fists
• Meats and poultry should be the size of one hand and the thickness of the center of your palm
• Starchy items like potatoes or pasta should be served in a portion about the size of one tightly clenched fist.
• Fruits should be about a handful worth

It's pretty handy (ha) once you get the hang of it-and it's fun to test against the scale.

Tomorrow: Helpful Hints for Eating Out!!!!

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bluetree (2947) 24 Jan 2006 11:40 PM

Great Advise!