Portion Size Surprise
June 25, 2025 • 2 min read
Many of us believe strict diets and hardcore workouts are the only ways to lose unwanted weight and live a healthy life. However, there is a way of eating your favorite foods while still practicing healthy habits – portion control.
Watching your portion sizes can be one of the easiest ways to lose weight and eat healthier, yet it can also feel like one of the hardest. In the last century, portion sizes have increased and, as a result, we subconsciously think that the portion sizes served are the correct portion sizes we should consume.
The question is:
How do we know if we’re eating the appropriate amount for our bodies?
It’s important to remember everyone’s bodies require a different amount of nutrients. Someone who is running a marathon is going to require more calories in a day as compared to someone who isn’t.
Think about the last time you sat down at a restaurant. What did your meal look like? What size was your drink, and how many refills did you get? How much we eat, and our portion sizes greatly affect our weight and our health.
A portion is how much food you choose to eat at one time. Some foods that appear as a single portion can actually contain multiple servings. For example: a small bag of mixed nuts often contains 2 servings within the 1 portion bag of nuts. |
A serving is the amount of food listed on a product's nutrition label. The values shown on the label are the serving size the manufacturer suggests. |
Next time you sit down to eat a meal or snack, think about the portion size. Eating just a few bites less could mean the difference in losing a few pounds or lowering your cholesterol or blood pressure. You don’t have to completely cut out your favorite foods, but you may want to remind yourself to be mindful of your portion size.