Portion Distortion

Portion distortion doesn’t just happen when you are eating out. It even happens in your own kitchen! The surfae area of the average dinner plate has increased 36% since the 1960s, encouraging us to eat more. Even our cookbooks have changed. The serving sizes of some entrees listed in the Joy of Cooking (2006) have increased by as much as 42% since the first edition was published in 1931. The size of muffins have grown and finding a small baked potato is a problem.

Let Leia Kedem, University of Houston Dietetic Intern, show you some common foods that have grown in size the last few years.

Portion Distortion Video

To assist you in determining the correct portions and types of foods, Del Monte has a “ReThink Your Plate Educational Tool”–a 9 inch plate made of melamine and imprinted with photographic images of healthy foods, sectioned into appropriate portions. It is dishwasher safe and designed for use as an educational tool in planning healthy portions or you can use it to make sure your portions are appropriate. You can purchase the Del Monte ReThink Your Plate for $9.95. Click Here.

To educate your clients on weight control and proper portions, purchase our new Supermarket Tour Kit for Weight Control. It contains 8 modules for different aisles of the supermarket with 3 activities for each aisle focusing on reading lables, comparing products and portion control. Included are 10 copy-ready tip sheets on stocking you kitchen, shopping on a budget, portion sizes, reading food labels, snacking, and meal solutions for weight control.

Shopping for Portion Control

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010, released this past January, emphasize the importance of calorie balance and portion control for weight management. Not surprisingly, perception has a lot to do with the way we eat. The vast majority of us are influenced to eat more as a result of larger portions and packages, and we are loath to admit it. Even our own dishes have been supersized, which encourages serving ourselves more. After all, a one-cup portion of spaghetti looks awfully small on a 12-inch dinner plate!

We’ll be honest – measuring, portioning, and meal planning take time and effort. If you’re trying to lose weight, convenient options found at the supermarket can help readjust your perception of what proper portions look like. Food manufacturers are starting to move beyond popular 100 Calorie Packs of crackers and cookies to offer single-serving versions of some of your favorite foods.

For example, Justin’s Nut Butters are a great way to add a bit protein and fat for a more balanced snack without going overboard on the calories. These provide 2 tablespoons of peanut-, almond-, and hazelnut butters in fun flavors like Chocolate Hazelnut and Maple Almond. Even better, they come in portable squeeze packs!

Reducing the amount you eat is a simple and effective way to decrease calorie intake, leading to weight loss. This month’s SUPERMARKET SAVVY Newsletter gives information about portion distortion and reviews food items that are ideal for those watching their weight, including Wholly Guacamole 100 Calorie Snack Packs, DiGiorno Pizza 200 Calorie Portions, and Skinny Cow Ice Cream Cups.

Click here to learn how you can purchase the latest issue of SUPERMARKET SAVVY to learn more about Shopping for Portion Control with a Getting Wise on Portion Size Tip Sheet and a review of Healthy Dessert Cups. Click here to download a Free Tip Sheet–Easy Guide on Serving Sizes. 

Check out our new Weight Control Supermarket Tour Kit for teaching how to shop for calorie controlled foods with a focus on portion control.