While everything is bigger in Texas, your waistline doesn’t have to be! Large portion sizes have become a growing problem in Texas and in the United States. Knowing the correct portion sizes for different foods and how it should look on your plate is important to avoid overeating.
3 oz chicken or meat = deck of cards
3 oz fish = checkbook
1 oz lunch meat = compact disc
1 cup = baseball
½ cup = light bulb
Medium fruit = tennis ball
Portion size is important but so is how much food you put on your plate. Here is an easy method to help you identify how much of your plate should be used for the various food types:
Imagine there are lines dividing your plate into four equal parts. Half of the plate (two-fourths) should be reserved for fruits and vegetables, while the remaining two-fourths should be split evenly between the grain and protein of the meal.ChooseMyPlate.gov, created by the United States Department of Agriculture, provides colorful visuals and downloadable factsheets to help you identify how much of your plate should be used for specific food types. By knowing the correct portion sizes, you are on your way to better health.
Updated: April 30, 2013