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It can be hard to measure out every portion of food you eat. Yet there are some simple ways to know that you are eating the right serving sizes.

A recommended serving size is the amount of each food that you are supposed to eat during a meal or snack. A portion is the amount of food that you actually eat. If you eat more or less than the recommended serving size, you will get either too much or too little of the nutrients you need.

Use your hand and other everyday objects to measure portion sizes:

One serving of meat or poultry -- the palm of your hand or a deck of cards
One 3-ounce serving of fish -- a checkbook
One-half cup of ice cream -- a tennis ball
One serving of cheese -- six dice
One-half cup of cooked rice, pasta, or snacks such as chips or pretzels -- a rounded handful, or a tennis ball
One serving of a pancake or waffle -- a compact disc
Two tablespoons of peanut butter -- a ping-pong ball

You should eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day to help prevent cancer. Fruits and vegetables are low in fat and high in fiber. They will also help you fill up so that you eat less of high-fat foods. They do contain calories so you should not eat an unlimited amount, especially of fruits.

How to measure out the correct serving sizes of fruits and vegetables:

1 cup of chopped raw fruits or vegetables -- a woman's fist or a baseball
One medium apple or orange -- a tennis ball
One-quarter cup of dried fruit or nuts -- a golf ball or small handful
1 cup of lettuce -- four leaves (Romaine lettuce)
One medium baked potato -- a computer mouse

To control your portion sizes when you're eating at home, try the following tips:

Don't eat from the bag. You could be tempted to eat too much. Use the serving size on the package to portion out the snack into small bags or bowls. You can also buy single-serving portions of your favorite snack foods.
Serve food on smaller plates. Eat from a salad plate instead of a dinner plate. Keep serving dishes on the kitchen counter so you'll have to get up for seconds. Putting your food out of easy reach will make it harder for you to overeat.
Substitute lower-fat varieties of food. Instead of whole-fat cream cheese, sour cream, and milk, buy low-fat or skim instead. Use half the amount you would normally use of these products to save even more calories.
Don't eat mindlessly. When you snack in front of the television or while doing other activities, you'll be distracted enough that you may eat too much. Eat at the table. Focus your attention on your food so you'll know when you've had enough to eat.
Snack between meals. If you're hungry between meals, eat a healthy, high-fiber snack such as a piece of fruit, small salad, or bowl of broth-based soup. The snack will fill you up so that you don't eat too much at your next meal.

To control your portion sizes when eating out, try these tips:

Order the small. Instead of a medium or large, ask for the smallest size. By eating a small hamburger instead of a large, you'll save about 150 calories. A small order of fries will save you about 300 calories, and a small soda will save 150 calories. Never super-size your order.
Share your meal. Split an entree with a friend, or cut your meal in half when it arrives. Put one half in a to-go box before you start eating. You can have the rest of your meal for lunch the next day.
Fill up with lower calorie foods. Order a small salad, fruit cup, or cup of broth-based soup before your entree. It will fill you up so that you eat less of your meal.

Reviewed By

Review Date: 10/05/2010

David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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