Portion Control: The Easy Way

We all know that healthy eating is important to stay fit and healthy, but did you also know that eating too much of a good thing can be bad for you? This is why portion control is so important – it gives one a correct estimate of how many calories and carbohydrates they’re consuming on a daily basis. However, learning what a portion size is, and religiously eating that amount is easier said than done. We tend to overeat more than we want and need, owing to a lack of awareness about portion control as well as the jumbo-sized meals commonly served in restaurants and other eateries.

Most of us don’t understand what constitutes a healthy portion size because of the larger portions being served everywhere, and an overabundance of everything from supersized steaks to colas.

Making tweaks to your daily diet can make a world of difference to your overall health, and also helps in maintaining an ideal body weight, which in turn leads to increased confidence and overall wellbeing. Lead a healthier lifestyle today by following these tips for controlling portion sizes:

• Portion-control Plates: Using these plates during mealtimes can help you considerably reduce your portion size. These handy plates come with painted lines that help measure carbohydrates, protein, and starch. This will help change your perspective on how much food should ideally be consumed, and prevent you from piling on too much onto your plate.

• Limiting intake of Liquid Calories: It is advisable to eat calories rather than drink them, as we can be prone to mindless guzzling of sugary drinks which can contribute to substantial calorie intake and make you hungrier in comparison to solid foods.

• Serve Fresh and Healthy Food: At home, we are prone to munching whatever is in front of us; therefore it is advisable to buy healthier food items such as fresh fruits and vegetables and keep them within easy reach. It’s best to avoid purchasing fried and trans-fat loaded snacks, which are loaded with preservatives and contain no nutrition element whatsoever.

• Develop good Eating-out Habits: Avoid frequenting all-you-can-eat buffets, as these encourage overeating by a huge margin. They may turn to be budget-friendly but they are certainly not good for your health. If you must eat out at such places, opt for tight-fitting clothes and scan all the dishes before you dig into the food. This will help you eat considerably less and make healthier choices.

• Plan all Meals: Make it a habit to write down what you eat and think before you eat. It’s also important to chew your food slowly and measure the amount of calories loaded in every snack. For instance, snacks should typically contain no more than 100 calories and 15 grams of carbohydrates – so it’s advisable to plan ahead and do your grocery shopping accordingly.

• Practice the Hand Guide: Look at your hand for easy reference to the amount of food you should be ideally consuming. For instance, your fingertip area equals roughly a teaspoonful of butter, which is the amount you should be spreading on your toast, and the front of your clenched fist is about the size of ½ cup pasta serving, which helps you cut back on calories and satisfy your craving at the same time.

• Don’t skip Meals: Nutritionists have confirmed that people need to eat at least three times a day, and also avoid going more than 5 hours without eating anything. When starving, you’re more than likely to eat a huge portion and dig into unhealthy snacks; hence it is better to eat three pre-planned meals and one snack.

• Turn off the Television: Watching TV distracts you and keeps you from sticking to healthy eating goals. Not only does it encourage a more sedentary lifestyle but also more snacking and munching – for as long as the TV show lasts.

If you would like to find out how Healing Touch’s Detox & Slim Therapy can complement your weight management plan, check here.