A very easy and fun way to visual portion sizes.This is at least half of my problem.  Thanks for making it simpleer

You have no idea how hard it is to share a meal with people who actually mock you for eating ONE chicken leg, or only a single serving of potato or pasta. I am literally working my butt off eating the proper portions: I already know what I eat does not appear to be "enough" (based on decades of allyoucaneat mentality) and it only makes it harder to enjoy proper portions when your friends as making fun of your single bite snack!

Hobbbs, time to get new friends!  

the fact that we're still using CDs and mouses as examples of serving sizes pretty much sums up the fact that younger generations will have a hard time learning what a correct portion is, let along using it.

Hobbbs, part of reaching maturity is learning that no one can make you do anything you don't have to do.

Original Post by: emdoggy

the fact that we're still using CDs and mouses as examples of serving sizes pretty much sums up the fact that younger generations will have a hard time learning what a correct portion is, let along using it.

An excellent point! Time to come up with new comparisons :)

Am I the only one who doesn't find these visual comparisons particularly helpful? It's much easier to just know what the serving size is and picture that. For example, 1/2 cup is a far better visualization than a light bulb. The stack of dice looks absolutely nothing like cheese, at least not the way I eat it. So now I can only eat cheese by the cube? YUCK! Also, I find that if I just cut what I think a serving size should be in half, I've gotten pretty close to an actual serving size. I'll just stick to measuring, thanks.

Original Post by: sgwhaley

Am I the only one who doesn't find these visual comparisons particularly helpful? It's much easier to just know what the serving size is and picture that. For example, 1/2 cup is a far better visualization than a light bulb. The stack of dice looks absolutely nothing like cheese, at least not the way I eat it. So now I can only eat cheese by the cube? YUCK! Also, I find that if I just cut what I think a serving size should be in half, I've gotten pretty close to an actual serving size. I'll just stick to measuring, thanks.

Visually taking half of what I would otherwise take has been key to my (small) success.  I can always go back for more if I'm still hungry - which I almost never am.

Original Post by: sgwhaley

Am I the only one who doesn't find these visual comparisons particularly helpful? It's much easier to just know what the serving size is and picture that. For example, 1/2 cup is a far better visualization than a light bulb. The stack of dice looks absolutely nothing like cheese, at least not the way I eat it. So now I can only eat cheese by the cube? YUCK! Also, I find that if I just cut what I think a serving size should be in half, I've gotten pretty close to an actual serving size. I'll just stick to measuring, thanks.

I agree.  I have found it useful to weigh and measure foods for a while.  You  soon get used to 'seeing' them on a plate or in a bowl.  Then, even when I'm out I recognise what's a 'large' portion.  

Overall, I find this graphics chart very helpful! I've always known about the pack of cards size for meat, etc, but the cookies and brownie/chocolate comparisons will be very nice for me now that BBQ season is gearing up. (I find homemade desserts made by others are always hardest for me to "guess-timate."

I liked this article too, especially the computer mouse for the baked potato. But I agree with those that said to just measure everything. I have been doing that since January and now I am getting better and better at getting it right. I was pouring things in the measuring cup and then the bowl, lately I have been pouring into the bowl and then into the measuring cup to check myself. I am getting very close. I know that has been one of my main problems in the past, way too much.

I like this as well!  Even if it isn't in the exact format as I would consume, at least I can visually recognize the amount of space that each item would take up!  If you aren't as adept at spatial recognition, it probably isn't helpful..

I just use those baby "section" plates. My veg/fruit/salad goes in the big one and starch/meat in the little ones....

I started out measuring everything until I got used to the look of a serving size, no I can eyeball it pretty well, but I still measure some things.

Overall I like the visualizations. but as someone who has never held a hockey puck or played poker...  I'm not sure what the size of the comparison is... 

What I've been personally doing, is looking at things in comparison to the palm of my hand after I weigh it. I typically find that if I cannot close my fingers (or visualize my hand closing) around a portion then it is more than one serving. I find most foods need to fit into the palm of my hand only and be about an inch thick (ie the top joint of my thumb.) 

@hobbs I relate to your frustration when eating around others also. I usually just tell people "I've had enough" or "I had/will have a big *insert meal* although this tastes very good."

Original Post by: lcmurray56

Hobbbs, time to get new friends!  

LOL! I use the word "friends" loosely. They are people in my life with whom I interact on a regular basis. I don't know why people do this. I suspect at least some of them are reminded that THEIR portions appear even bigger when I scale back mine, and they may not want to be reminded of their overuse of food. And a few probably don't want to see me succeed. I deal with it. But is is annoying.

While I like the idea of having easy references for portion sizes, I'm not sure these are the best. I consider myself a big sports fan, but I don't know the last time I held a puck, ping pong ball, or baseball. I might be able to approximate, but I have no idea how far off I would be. And for someone who's never played with poker chips, that's not really helpful.

I had been logging my food for over 2 years and I am so damn sick of it. I have a very good sense of portion sixe. I start logging my food in the morning do well through lunch and afternoon snack but by dinner time I often say the hell with it.  I still am loosing weight -173 lbs gone - so even with half hearted logging I still have healthy eating habits. I rarely eat anything white, don't eat refined sugar (except when I give in to Trader Joe's salted caramels) and I am around supportive people. I would avoid like the plague people who would make snide comments -fortunately I haven't had any and if I did get a few I probably ignore them or tell the idiot what for  if it really bothered me. 

While the images can be helpful I think it would be better to weigh 1 oz of cheese and get a visual. If one has a plate with a center design then place the cheese on that and then get visual. The playing card is OK but the palm of the hand works too. I don't think I'll be carrying a light bulb in my pocket when I go out for dinner.

Sarah

like the sectioned baby plate idea. I may go out and buy one for myself

I think the visualizations are subjective. I wouldn't be so quick to discount those utilized here. Personally, I would not be confused in understanding if the writer was suggesting I eat cheese in dice sized squares. It's simple really. Think smaller. Much smaller. Much much smaller. We've been disoriented over the past decade especially by plates in restaurants becoming HUGE. Portions are ridiculous. Use whatever symbolism you need that fits your spacial relevance but just think smaller. Much much much ...... smaller.