#1Mar 18th, 2008
When it comes to healthy eating, how much you eat is just as important as what you eat. But with portion sizes on the rise, it's not always easy to know what an appropriate amount of food is.
There are ways to keep your intake in check, but the first step is to understand the difference between the terms 'serving' and 'portion.' Although sometimes used interchangeably, their meanings are quite different.
A serving is a standardized way of measuring food — for example, half a cup of rice or one ounce of cheese. A portion is the actual amount of food that is being served for a snack or meal.
Not only have the portion sizes of packaged foods increased; our own perceptions of appropriate portions are on the rise along with them. This means we're serving ourselves more food compared to 20 years ago, in many cases without even realizing it.
Larger portions translate into an almost certain increased intake of calories. So, simply being aware of how much you are actually eating per portion during meals and snacks can go a long way when trying to keep your food intake in check.
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Do you look at serving size when eating meals or snacks?


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