How do you control your food portions

Any suggestions to help with portion control? I've heard of meal prepping or using certain size dishes, or using food scales. I usually can control my portions during the morning and day but dinner I seem to always want seconds what works for you guys?

Message edited 2/15/2014 9:42:06 AM.

Re: How do you control your food portions

DH needs help with this too so I usually only cook enough for one meal. It stinks because we never have left overs, but this really works the best I think.

Re: How do you control your food portions

Certain things, I use a food scale for...it's helpful to weigh things like cereal (in grams) to make sure I am only taking one serving.

When it comes to dinner, I will weigh a piece of meat or fish, and will usually use measuring cups for a starch like pasta, rice, or potatoes. I don't worry about veggies.

I try to make my plate and bring it to the table, versus putting all of the serving dishes on the dining table where it would be tempting to take seconds. I also sometimes serve myself a smaller portion than I've allotted myself so I can go back and have more, but still not eat too much. Sometimes I eat on a smaller plate to trick myself. And I always allow myself unlimited vegetables which can help fill me up.

Sometimes, when I am super hungry for dinner, I overeat, so I try to have a pre dinner healthy snack, like a piece of fruit or something so I am not ravenous when I sit down to eat. Also, I try to eat slowly...I do better with portion control if I am not shoveling it in, which is my natural tendency.

Re: How do you control your food portions

I would try a smaller plate. There have been studies done that show you actually feel more satiated if you eat off a small full plate, then a large one with empty space. Also try to wait 20 minutes before deciding on seconds. Even brush and floss your teeth, then wait, You probably wont want it after that.

Re: How do you control your food portions

I've been wanting to go to small bowls and plates, which used to be "side" bowls/plated. Our regular plates and bowls are so oversized to begin with and I always go for seconds too. I try to give myself less to begin with since I know I can't resist "more". Also I try to portion out the servings ahead of time and if they are all accounted for then I can't eat more without going into someone elses serving.

Re: How do you control your food portions

I also like the ideas of having a vegetable or fruit snack beforehand.

then chewing gum, eating mints or brushing and flossing after the meal puts an end on it for me.

How do you control your food portions

We normally try to cook only the amount we will eat. Or sometimes an extra one for lunch. We also put everything on our plate from the stove/oven. Nothing goes onto a serving dish and onto the table. The extra portion goes into a lunch container almost immediately.

How do you control your food portions

one thing i have not done yet, but am planning to do (when i buy new dishes after the move)... use BLUE dishes.

i don't recall where i read it, but there were a few studies that showed that blue dishes made food less appealing VISUALLY, and made people eat less.

now, as far as what i do now... i serve myself in the smallest plates we have. it looks like i have a "mountain" of food because it's piled up a bit, but it's a much smaller portion.

Re: How do you control your food portions

How do you control your food portions

Sit at the dining room or kitchen table, don't put the food on the table. Make your plates in the kitchen then bring them to the table, this way the "extra" food is out of sight/out of mind. Drink water, eat slowly, and use smaller plates. Make dinner time more than just eating as fast as you can, once DH and I made it "unwind time" where we sit, talk, relax, we started eating HALF of what we normally would eat. That said, if we have a stressful tired night and just get takeout and eat in front of the TV, we ALWAYS over eat.