How to Know the Difference Between Portions and Serving Sizes

We all tend to use the words "portions" and "servings" size interchangeably, but there are clear differences between the two. According to the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health, "portions are the amount of foods you choose to eat" whereas the serving sizes are, "measures used to describe the amount of foods recommended from each food group." Knowing the difference between portions and serving sizes is just one solution in the battle against obesity.

Things You'll Need

• 5 fruits and vegetables each day
• Shopping list
• Healthy recipes
• Healthy snacks
• Measuring cups

Show More

Instructions

Know The Difference Between Portions and Serving Sizes

• 1

  Skip the urge to super-size. Most fast food restaurants offer super-sized menu options. Your body does not need the extra food and it can be detrimental to your health. According to the US National Institutes of Health Service, Medline Plus, eating smaller portions is an essential strategy towards weight management.

• 2

  Choose your dinner wisely. Order a half-portion instead of an entire meal or share a dinner with another person if the portion size is large. No one needs to eat a 16 oz. steak alone. Paying for an extra plate as opposed to an entire dinner will save you more than dollars in terms of your health.

• 3

  Measure the serving size. Most packages will recommend the serving size. For instance, cereal boxes recommend a serving size of ¾ cup or 1 cup. Freely pouring cereal into a bowl actually doubles the portion. Measure the serving and top off the cereal with one of the recommended daily fruit servings to provide yourself with a satisfying portion.

• 4

  Read package labels. Most prepackaged items that appear to be single serve products actually contain two servings. This is especially the case with regard to snack packages. The deception that they are "single serve" will lead you to devour the entire package.

• 5

  Eat on smaller plates. This seems like a relatively simple strategy but the University of Hawaii's Department of Nutrition states, "one way to eat proportionally is to begin with a smaller 9" plate, where one-half of the plate is filled with fruits and vegetables, one quarter filled with starch (preferably whole grains) and the remaining quarter filled with protein."