Portion size vs Serving size: Whats the difference? Heres what your healthy, balanced plate should look like | Photo Credit: iStock Images
New Delhi: You may have been told to watch out for your portion size, especially if youre trying to shed those few extra kilos. Perhaps, whenyou meet any nutritionist with any of your healthy eating concerns, you may be asked to take care of your portion size and serving size. Including appropriate amounts of healthful foods in your diet is a key part of healthy eating. However, the terms serving size and portion size are often used interchangeably - although they aren't the same thing - when it comes to deciding how much to eat.
So, to help you better understand these two phrases that youll often hear in relation to weight loss diet or mindful eating, we talked to an expert who explains the real difference between portion size and serving size. Having a clear view of these terms and knowing how much to put on your plate to help control how much you consume without compromising on taste nutrients can help you stay healthy or maintain weight loss.
Maybe, if youve started reading the nutrition labels and following a few small things, you are already halfway to eating healthy. Read on as Nisha, nutritionist, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Gurgaon, tells us how is a portion size or serving size determined.
Portion size is the amount of any food we choose to eat, which could be more or less than a serving. In fact, a portion is 100 per cent under your control.
For instance, the nutrition fact of oats is labeled as 1 cup dalia/wheat porridge for one serving, but if you decide to have half cup of it only, that would be referred to as portion size.
Serving size is a standardised amount of food. It may be used to quantify recommended amounts, as is the case with the healthy plate diagram, MyPlate food groups, or represent quantities that people typically consume on a food label or nutrition facts label.
Extra-large burger, Extra-large pizza, a bit more cheesy topping, extra fried rice on takeaway, big large size cola free!!! All of these are more fascinating to all of us and none of us never fail to grab this opportunity to have 'thoda' extra or 'little more'on our plate, that is where and how we actually affect our healthy eating concept and patterns.So, you must be thinking about what should be the ideal balance of your plate.
Have a look at how your plate should be, how you can determine the portion of any food, and what small steps you can take to control the portion size. Ideally, it should be in the ratio of 50 per cent, 25 per cent and 25 per cent.
And here are a few tips to measure food portions:
You can use your hand for better understanding of portions.
Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.
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Portion size vs Serving size: Whats the difference? Heres what your healthy, balanced plate should look like - Times Now
