The other day I saw a fact sheet online that blew my mind. It compared portion sizes today vs. the 1950’s and wow! What a difference…
Obviously, these examples are for fast food. But studies also show that for other foods – the size you see on nutrition labels, in restaurants, etc. – often are 6 or more times larger than the portion sizes recommended by the USDA! That’s HUGE, and it adds up to a lot of extra food – maybe even THOUSANDS of calories – your body doesn’t need. If you’ve lost touch with proper portion sizes, the good news is you have a built-in portion guide – it’s your hand.
- Fruits and veggies: 1 fist
- Salad: 2 fists
- Protein: 1 palm
- Fats: 1 thumb
- Starchy carbs/grains: a handful
It can take a little while to get used to the normal portion sizes… but it’s so worth it because of how much better you will feel! Many people report they have more energy, better sleep and even stronger workouts when they adjust their portion sizes. As always, I’m here to help!
