Portion Control for Weight Loss & Healthy Living

by 387 Comments

My favorite tips and tricks for portion control, whether you’re cooking at home or eating out at a restaurant.
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When I started my weight loss and healthy living journey, I knew that portion control was going to be a key part of changing my eating habits. My perspective on what was considered to be “one helping” was a little out of whack. “What do you mean I can’t eat four heaping bowls of quinoa?! Quinoa’s healthy, so what’s the problem?” Yeah.

Of course, I didn’t REALLY think it was okay to eat as much as my husband at dinnertime, then sneak into the fridge later for leftovers. I just didn’t want to stop eating because I was bored, angry, happy…darn that emotional eating!

When I started tracking my meals and snacks on MyFitnessPal, I knew that it wasn’t going to be pretty. The amount of cheese and crackers I typically grazed on for an afternoon “snack” took up nearly one-half of my allotted calories for the day. Even the healthy grains, such as brown rice, whole wheat couscous and quinoa, were consumed in portions much too big for one person, particularly a person who can barely reach the top shelf of the pantry.

Portion Control Tips & Tricks

How to measure portion sizes:

So, I started weighing and measuring, with the intention of eventually being able to “eyeball” the portions. Stashing a scale and measuring cup in my purse to take to dinner at our favorite restaurant wasn’t exactly an option. People already think it’s odd when I snap pictures of the food. No need to give them more reasons to stare.

But how the heck was I going to “eyeball” four ounces of chicken or a half-cup of rice? The first thing I did was to pull out my handy OXO scale and measuring cups (more about those in the giveaway section), which I use for everything from measuring baking ingredients to weighing out meal portions. I began by weighing and measuring everything – not because I planned to do that forever, but because I wanted to familiarize myself with how a healthy portion looked.

After several times of measuring out 1 cup of spinach, 1/2 cup of brown rice and 2 ounces of turkey meat, I became comfortable with serving up these portions without always relying on the scale and measuring cups. I knew that a serving of leafy greens filled about three-quarters of our wooden salad bowls and a half-cup portion of berries perfectly lined the bottom of my cereal bowl. I still weigh and measure periodically to make sure that I am on track with my estimates. I also learned some little tricks.

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Tricks for Estimating Portion Sizes

You may have heard some of these tricks before, but they deserve a mention because they really can be helpful when you are eating out, or you simply want to measure by sight rather than pulling out your scale. Here are some of my favorites:

1 serving of fruits or vegetables = size of a baseball (not a softball) or the size of a woman’s fist
1/2 cup cooked or raw veggies = rounded handful
3 ounces of chicken or meat = size of a deck of cards or a standard bar of soap
1 small russet potato = size of a computer mouse
1/4 cup dried fruit or nuts = size of a large egg
1 cup of cereal = size of a woman’s fist
1 1/2 ounces cheese = 4 dice stacked together

Whether or not you want to record your meals and snacks for the long-term, I suggest tracking them for several days. It’s eye-opening and, quite frankly, a little shocking. At least it was for me. The beauty of an app such as MyFitnessPal is that it also breaks down your daily nutrient intake. I quickly learned that I was pathetically low on iron and potassium.

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How to control your portions:

How many times have I eaten a snack straight from the bag while standing at the counter? I don’t even want to think about it. It’s that kind of mindless eating that got me in trouble in the first place. Here are some things that I tried to change. Believe me, I don’t do them all the time, but I figure “often” is better than “never”.

1. Sit down to eat. For some reason, standing to eat just leads me to eat more. Perhaps it’s because I’m standing near the source of the food.

2. Use smaller plates and bowls. If I put a portion of pasta in a large bowl, I feel cheated. It looks like a miniscule portion and I’m convinced that I should pile more in.

3. Step away from the phone, iPad, computer, TV or any other distractions. If I don’t think about eating, then the food is gone before I’ve ever had the chance to taste it.

4. Take a sip of water after every few bites. Not only does this help me stay hydrated and satiated, it also slows me down. Seriously, I can inhale a meal in five minutes flat if I don’t stop myself. Typically, it takes about 20 minutes for the stomach to tell the brain it’s full. Give it a chance to do so!

5. Don’t let yourself get too hungry. If I sit down to a meal when I’m famished, I’m more likely to chow down…quickly and alot. That’s why eating regular, healthy meals and snacks is really important.

I would love to hear some of your tricks and tips for portion control and conscious eating. Feel free to leave your ideas in the comment section.

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My favorite tools for measuring portion sizes:

Food Scale with Pull-Out Display – This scale measure in grams and ounces, has a pull-out display so that you can place large bowls on the scale and “zeroes” the weight of the bowl so you get an accurate measurement of what’s inside.

Stainless Steel Measuring Cups – Not only do I love the look of these measuring cups, but they are also very comfortable to hold.

Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons – We use these everyday for measuring smoothie ingredients or the ingredients for Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by OXO and they supplied me with some OXO products for my personal use and the giveaway. All opinions are my own. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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Comments

  1. Raelene says

    I love these tools! I am totally with you on portion control, as long as I have the *right* amount I don’t feel like I’m going without. It works!

    Reply

  2. Rookie Qookie says

    I control my portions by having a bowl of clear soup before the main course. It fills me up and prevents me from over-eating. I make enough soup to last me for a few days 🙂

    Reply

  3. Cindy @ Once Upon a Loaf says

    Wow – you look AMAZING. I remember when I first followed you on Twitter, how I thought you were the prettiest food blogger out there – and you looked great “before,” too. But you are smokin’ now! 😉 I need to get back to better portion control. I’m a runner, too, and when I’m training for marathons, I sometimes feel a little too entitled, when I’m actually not. Thanks for this post!

    Reply

  4. Katia says

    Thankyou for your honesty in these weight loss posts.
    It’s hard enough for me to confess to MYSELF that I’ve been eating portion sizes that are way out of control, much less confessing it to the internet. I have been hesitating with joining WW online just to keep track of what I’m eating, but this app actually sounds like a better starting point – & I am downloading it now, in fact!
    Again, thankyou for these posts which are striking and reassuring in their honesty.

    Reply

  5. Peggy says

    Congrats on your weight loss. I’m working hard to lose weight and get healthy, too. 14 pounds so far! These tools would certainly come in handy!

    Reply

  6. Michele says

    Portion control is something I’ve always struggled with! Perhaps winning that scale would get me on track!

    Reply

  18. Emilie @ Emilie's Enjoyables says

    Isn’t controlling our portions hard?!? Sometimes I find that I do it naturally but other times I get frustrated when I see how much my fiance can consume without a worry! My trick is to always wait 20 minutes after dinner to eat dessert. I’m one of those where it takes me 20 or so minutes to actually feel “full”, so if I immediately eat dessert, I tend to overeat.

    Reply

  19. Lindsay says

    Hey there! I rarely post, but I wanted to thank you for posting this because I don’t think others recognize the importance of knowing your servings! I’ve lost over 40 pounds doing this over the years. I also dip my salads, not pour. That’s been a biggie because I eat A LOT of fresh vegetables.

    Thanks for sharing with the world!

    Reply

  20. Lucky says

    If it makes you feel better, retraining myself to recognize reasonable portions has made maintaining what I did lose oh, so much easier, so it might be a bummer now but it will pay off in the long run.

    I also learned not to eat dessert until I did my evening exercise (walking/jogging in my case). One, it gave me incentive to actually do the exercise and, two, once I was done, I wanted a big glass of water more than I wanted something sweet, so I ate less and didn’t feel like I’d given anything up.

    Reply

  22. Evelyn R says

    I have never used a scale to weigh portions but would love to win so I could try it…..thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply

  27. Cooking with Michele says

    My other tip is to also measure out wine in a glass – wine glasses today are so darn big (did you know an entire bottle of wine fits in a Riedel pinot noir glas???) that we think we are having one glass when it’s really 2 or more. (PS, reading about your journey inspired me to get my butt in gear and lose the weight I put on doing my cookbook project – 6 pounds down, 4 to go! – and measuring, weighing, and writing it all down are absolutely key.)

    Reply

  29. Tyla says

    I love my scale! We also bought a couple of extra measuring cup/spoon sets and have them all in a basket in the cupboard – so we are never without the measuring implement we need.

    I wanted to also thank you for recommending myfitnesspal! I had been using spark people, but myfitnesspal is SO much more streamlined and so much easier to enter everything into. So, thanks!

    Reply

    • Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says

      Hi Tyla, thanks so much for commenting. If you want to “friend” me on MyFitnessPal, my username is CookinCanuck. It’s always more motivating to have friends on there!

      Reply

  30. Stacey says

    I have a cheap digital scale that I picked up years ago. I have had that specific model of OXO on my wishlist for awhile.

    Reply

  36. April says

    It’s funny you mention “4 cups of quinoa,” I could not believe how many calories are actually in this healthy grain (seed). I add a couple teaspoons to my salads to help feel full, add texture, and enjoy the over all flavor.

    Reply

  37. Jane says

    Half a cup, four ounces, heck, it’s hard to guess. I’ve gotten in the habit of using measuring spoons for stuff like sugar in my tea, but I need to work on using measuring cups/weights for bigger stuff.

    Reply

  39. annabelle says

    I live by portions control, is the best way!!!! I love the oxo digital scale, putting one in my wishlist

    Reply

  49. Jenny says

    I could really use that scale–I have a really old, non-digital one and I often wonder how accurate it is!

    Reply

  52. judy jursch says

    Portion control is one of the hardest, but one of the most necessary parts of changing your lifestyle. Congratulations to you for learning how to manage this!

    Reply

  54. Linda Russell says

    Yes, when you begin to measure/weigh and write EVERYTHING down, you see results. I am always surprised how quickly I forget something I ate if I don’t write it down immediately before or after eating it.

    Reply

  56. Andrea W says

    This is a great prize! Would love to finally lose my last 10 lbs and portion control just may be the way to do it!

    Reply

  60. Krysten Oliphant says

    I do the same thing. I typically eat really healthy foods but tend to eat WAY too much of them. Measuring is really important!

    Reply

  64. Kelly Edm says

    I’d love to win this! I’ve been on the hunt for a good scale for ages and just never get around to getting one. Plus? I am in desperate need of portion control. Sad, but true!

    Reply

  69. Deb says

    I have been thinking I need to be more aware of the size of portions I serve.myself. Thank you for this post…!

    Reply

  71. Tanya says

    I am much more conscious about WHAT I am eating, HOW MUCH I am eating, and WHEN I am eating it when I am also in an exercise routine. When it takes as long as it does to burn off 200 calories, I’m much more careful about squandering it!!! Weighing it would only make me more accountable.

    Reply

  74. Amy MS says

    You look great and have inspired me to download Lose It on my iphone. Also, I made your stuffed shells last night for the second time. My son and I just love them!

    Reply

  76. Lizvc says

    My approach to portion control when eating out was to cut everything in half and put the second half in a take-home box. I cut way back when eating at home, too. When I was diagnosed with Diabetes, I met with a Diabetes Educator/Nutritionist and she gave me an eating plan. Then I set about measuring all my carb choices. You quickly learn to judge your portions of most foods by sight. I’ve lost 40 pounds.

    Reply

  80. Katie says

    I like to add mushrooms/veggies/tomatoes to my single serving of pasta. It makes it look like I’m eating a lot more pasta than I really am. I also like to toss it with a bit of olive oil and black pepper instead of butter or other sauces.

    I really enjoy your recipes, even the soups ^_^

    Reply

  82. Emily H. says

    I’m the worst at portion control so these tools would be amazing to get my eating in order!! Great post!

    Reply

  87. Maxine says

    I’ve recently started a weight loss program, again! These tips are great and I know from past experience (LOTS of experience!!) that they work! I have a set of serving spoons that are 1 C. and 1/2 C. exactly and I use them all the time… takes the guess work out, which is never a good idea anyway! I have always wanted a scale for those items that can’t be measured w/ a cup or spoon… maybe?? 🙂 Thanks for reminding me of these important tips today!!

    Reply

  90. Krystal says

    I’m guilty of snacking out of the bag too… and the worst part is, I know that its bad, but keep on munching anyways!

    Reply

  96. Angela says

    I love this idea. I am toying with the idea of being more healthy and I have made some good positive changes, but I know I need to do more. This might be the way to make me do it properly.

    Reply

  97. Shari Ryan Eklund says

    Great tools … even better info! I have often thought that my personal weight demon is an out of whack portion control “meter”! I shared your info on my Facebook page, I “liked” OXO and also “liked” Cookin’ Canuck on Facebook! Sorry, but I am not on Twitter at this time.

    Reply

  101. Julie @BananasForBourbon says

    I have a trick that I LOVE! I eat a lot of leftovers and a lot of soups. When I’m reheating something like a soup or stir fry I’ll line the bowl first with a handful of spinach or arugula. Then top it with soup. This keeps me from over-filling the bowl, as I have a tendency to do, and adds some extra greens to the meal. The spinach wilts with the heat of the microwave and is always a tasty addition!

    Reply

  109. sarah says

    I am so impressed by your weightloss journey. It’s amazing to see someone make a successful and healthy change. Also, I love OXO products!

    Reply

  110. Arlyn says

    I have been a follower of your blog for awhile now! I have recently started my weight loss journey! I am at my halfway point and I cannot seem to break through my “Plateau”. Thank you for the great giveaway!!!

    Reply

  118. Frieda says

    What a wonderful giveaway! I’ll take the almonds, too!
    Putting down my fork in between bites have really helped me.
    OXO has great products; they are one of my favorite brands!

    Reply

  133. shar y says

    This scale would be awesome. Thank you for this wonderful post reminding us about portion control. I know that is very important!

    Reply

  140. debbie hulbert says

    Followed you on Twitter….have been reading blog and getting in my daily drool – nice to have your insight on portion control as I’m now working on eating healthy – and am following many of your steps.

    Biggest help for me is eating a small and balanced meal carb/protein every three hours. Keeps the blood sugar level and allows the body to learn how to use stored fuel!

    Reply

  151. Cherie Mistretta says

    I would love to win, I think portion control is huge and like you I could eat 4 helpings of good Quinoa anyday.

    Reply

  152. Shana says

    I have learned to only take one serving on a salad plate & don’t go back for seconds. That’s my portion control so far. I haven’t started weighing food yet, but I used to cook @ the Senior Center & had to take classes every year, so I did learn something! But knowing & doing are two different beasts!!

    Reply

  158. Mirtha says

    I have kept a food diary before, per my doctor’s request, and it helped. I will start doing that again, thanks for all the tips.

    Reply

  183. Katie says

    I have recently started measuring my food too, but I do not have a kitchen scale, so I just try to eyeball it, this would be sooo helpful!

    Reply

  188. patti says

    I follow you on Facebook and Twitter as well as get an e-mail from you. I joined My Fitness Pal at your suggestion and really like it.

    Reply

  189. Barb P. says

    I think the more tools and mind pictures you have in your head, the harder it is to fool yourself on portion control. Thanks!

    Reply

  193. Lisa says

    You’re right about the wake up call you get when you start tracking every single thing you put in your mouth on myfitnesspal. No wonder I wasn’t losing weight before. Have thought about buying a scale but haven’t invested yet, so would love to win one!

    Reply

  206. Kelli says

    I never used to measure how much cereal I was eating for breakfast. Big mistake! Now I use a 1/4 cup so I can mix & match cereals. Every morning can be different.

    Reply

  213. jacquie says

    i try very hard to not eat standing up or w/ my fingers or “on the run”. i also have become more aware of “portion” size by noting what a serving size is since it varies so much from one thing to another and measuring things out until i get a feel for it. i also try to minimize pre-processed food as i find that can really pack the calories in w/o one realizing it. plus home cooked tastes so much better anyway 🙂

    Reply

  214. jacquie says

    i don’t have a facebook account nor know anything about twitter – can i get an extra entry for being an email subscriber?

    Reply

  215. SeattleDee says

    Thanks for providing the kickstart I needed to begin MyFitnessPal and make conscious choices about how and what I eat. You are an inspiring role model.

    While I can’t face a drink of water after each food bite, I have found that putting my fork down between bites is helpful. Hard to practice, but helpful.

    Reply

  216. gail says

    Liked you/oxo/did everything you asked but no twitter for me – anyhow – not sure how to do the date stamp thing – too much – anyhow -enter me – Love your blog & the way i do portion control is to dance/dance/dance.

    Reply

  227. Lena H. says

    What great timing! My scale just died last week! Whenever I buy foods in bulk — or make a batch of quinoa, brown rice, oats, whatever — I measure them out in one-serving containers. That way they are all ready to go when I need them. And the same thing goes with any leftovers — measure them out and then put them right in the freezer.

    I love your tip about the water! Even though I always make sure to drink enough water through the day — I often forget it at mealtimes. It seems like a great way to slow down my eating!

    Reply

  238. Marty says

    Great tips. I agree, a kitchen scale is so important in keeping our serving sizes in check. Once you learn, you can rely on it less, but great to start.

    Reply

  241. Erica says

    The first time I read a post in which you mentioned MyFitnessPal (weeks/months ago), I downloaded and tried it, but ended up deciding that it was too tedious to record all my meals, every day. When you posted again about your weight-loss journey (with the before and afters), you got my attention! I started using the app again and it has helped me lose 5 lbs in 2 weeks. Like you, my portions were out of whack and I was snacking a lot after dinner. The calorie counter helped motivate me to “be good” and cut out needless snacking!

    Thanks so much for your bravery and honesty in sharing your success with all of us. Sometimes all that’s needed is a little inspiration to make a change 🙂

    Reply

  243. Katherine Martinelli says

    These are really great tips, Dara! It’s something that I’ve realized I need to keep in mind more and more as my metabolism begins to slow. It ain’t what it used to be! I can definitely keep up with my husband in terms of portions, and he’s not only bigger than me but also exercises way more. What should be 4 portions for us is 2. Maybe it’s time for me to break out the scale! I also skip breakfast frequently, which I’ve read is not healthy. It’s better to get your metabolism started.

    Great giveaway! 🙂

    Reply

  244. Raquelle says

    Thanks so much for sharing these tips as well as the giveaway. I’ve been interested in weighing my food especially because, like you, I’m also on a weight loss and health journey and have been changing my eating style. I’d love to enter the giveaway, thank you so much for hosting it!

    Reply

  255. Michele says

    it’s incredible how varied a serving of food is !
    i too have an issue of shoving food in my face from the bag.. heh.
    great tips, thank you so much n-n

    Reply

  258. Rebekah DeLibro says

    I first found you looking up a recipe and read your inspiring story and now I am doing myfitnesspal as well. It is eye opening!!! The recipe I tried was pasta salad with mint, basil and chicken. So yummy!! I have been doing great with my fitness pal however my difficult part of the month is coming up and I can already feel the cravings creeping up on me. I don’t own a scale of any kind in my home but will need to buy a body weight scale soon to track my weight. Thank you for all your helpful tips. I am going to follow you on twitter and Facebook as well!

    Reply

  260. Jill Williams says

    I have also measured things out to improve my portion control. I do pretty well at breakfast & lunch, but dinner portion control is a work in progress. 🙂

    Reply

  261. Elise says

    I liked you on Facebook – I also use myfitness pal and have started measuring things, but the scale would be so nice to keep myself entirely honest!

    Reply

  272. yael says

    This is so important , since I have always been a “quantity” eater and not a “quality” eater. I am working hard( it’s a constant battle) to learn how to quality and not quantity. Thanks for the post!

    Reply

  276. Donna says

    I’m on the same journey. Quite an eye opening experience, isn’t it! Congratulations on your success and wishing you years of continued success!

    Reply

  282. sarah says

    What a wonderful give away. I don’t own a scale so I try to eyeball portions and I am sure I am off considerably. Thanks for the opportunity to win.

    Reply

  288. Windy says

    You are an inspiration! And those are some really helpful tips. I hadn’t thought about several of them. Thank you.

    Reply

  301. Natalie J Vandenberghe says

    I really need new measuring cups! I haven’t been using a scale, so I imagine that would come in handy, also. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply

  310. amy marantino says

    i try to have a veggie course before the main meal, to fill me up with the good stuff so that i eat less of the heavy stuff.

    Reply

  311. Cori says

    My scale broke a couple of months back, so it’s rough to bake as neatly! But on the portion control side, I realized I was eating around 800-1000 calories of trail mix a night! So THAT’S where my 8-miles of running is going. Awesome.

    Reply

  312. Julia says

    I absolutely love this post! I’ve been trying to lose a couple pounds and have been really struggling! Being able to weigh my portions would be awesome 🙂

    Reply

  320. Rebecca says

    Portions can be sneaky little things. A sample here and there surprisingly add up quick. I haven’t done so well with it lately. Thanks for the reminder, need to jump back on that bandwagon!

    Reply

  329. Tenesia says

    Im loving the app you recommended! Now, I’m just getting used to everything but so far it truly is one of the best I have downloaded. I love the part where it says “if every day were like today’. Amazing! Can’t wait for your Canadian giveaways

    Reply

  332. Briana Lopez says

    Love your blog! Especially all the healthy recipes. I’m always looking for fast and easy things to make in the morning since its when I have less time 🙂

    Reply

  333. Aggie says

    Portion control is definitely a challenge for me. Especially when it comes to snacking. I have to pull out the portion from the box, close the box and put the box away before I put that first snack in my mouth (I am referring to triscuits here 🙂 ) I tend to overdo it with anything crunchy and salty!

    What a fantastic giveaway Dara!

    Reply

  337. TWILA says

    I control portions by weighing…but I don’t have nearly of deluxe of a scale. Would love this to help me continue with my weight loss journey.

    Reply

  347. Jen Evison says

    I’m also a huge fan of the OXO brand! I only use their storage containers now. I’ve also followed you and OXO on Twitter. Thanks for doing this fun giveaway!

    Reply

  348. Jo Harrington says

    You look fab! Congratulations on your weight loss and healthier lifestyle. I have also lost a ton o’weight and know how much better it feels to be the “new” me. All the best to all of us on the giveaway!

    Reply

  373. Linda W says

    I liked Oxo on Facebook – I don’t do the twitter or have my own blog) Thank you for having this giveaway!! Good luck to me!

    Reply

  376. Kimby says

    Dara, I was familiar with your “approximations” list, except a potato the size of a computer mouse. 🙂 Leave it to you to bring me up to speed with the 20th century! 🙂 (21st century?!) Thanks for your tips on healthy (and proportional) eating.

    Reply

  379. katie d says

    Way to go! You look great. I snack at the drop of a hat! So I have to tell myself that I don’t need the “cookie” or whatever it is I fancy. I really can often convince myself that I don’t have to eat snacks because I can eat a whole meal in a few of hours – its not starvation forever – just til dinner’s ready! And if I’m still tempted I try to eat an orange because that takes so much time to peel, then eat, that its closer to my next meal!! Yay! Mind you it doesn’t always work 🙁 lol

    Reply

  381. cookingrookie says

    Great post! I absolutely agree with 2,4,5. 1 and 3 would be really difficult for me to achieve :-). TV is my main entertainment during meals 😉 But to look like you do, I guess I have to try …

    Reply

  383. Amanda says

    I’ve always considered using measuring cups to portion out my food, but I never considered using a scale until I could ‘eyeball’ correct portions! Genius!

    Reply

  384. Bonnie says

    HI Dara,

    I’m Also a Canadian living in the USA! I discovered your web site and you motivate me in keeping fit!
    I love your recipes and the portion control and 4 rules did it for me
    1 sit down
    2smaller portions
    3step away phone, computer TV when eating
    4take sip of water after few bites of water

    Also you made me realize my habit of eating when bored,angry ,tired, happy…. but reading it is powerful, realize that we are all the same ! You rock girl I love your web site wish can meet you one day!

    Reply

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