
Size Really Does Matter
05/28/08 6:56 PM
Learn what a serving size looks like in our super-sized world!
We live in a culture of ginormous portions and super-sized upgrades. As a result, we often overeat without realizing it. So, how much should we really be eating? CLICK HERE for a handy little card you can keep in your wallet that reveals proper serving sizes. You don't even need a measuring cup or scale -- we've used everyday items to help you compare.
Another useful tool to help measure portion sizes is your hand.
- One serving of protein should be about the size of your palm.
- One serving of veggies should be the size of two fists.
- Starchy items like cooked pasta, rice or potatoes should be the size of a tightly clenched fist.
You can also visualize proper food sizes with The Portion Plate. The plate is divided into areas showing how much you are supposed to be consuming at mealtime.
Here are a few more helpful tips to keep your portions under control:
Make It a Two-fer: Your mid-day meal can work double duty if you share it with a friend, or put half into a takeout box right away so you can enjoy it as dinner later that night!
Single out Trigger Foods: Resist eating from the box or bag. Buy snack foods in single serving sizes or divvy up full size packages into smaller, individual bags to stop mindless snacking.
Say Yes to Salads: Eating a salad before lunch or dinner is a great way to fill up and keep from overeating.
Do you have a great tip for controlling the amount you eat? Help a sister out and share your secrets below!
Comments (22) | Post a comment now »
Hi tyra!
Well I’m not exactly sure if this is the right way to e-mail you or not, but this is my first time on your website and I couldn't really figure it out...anyways..I’m 15 and I have been searching for an organization that is safe to travel with and that will take me to Africa or some other place that is in poverty that I can volunteer at for a couple of weeks. I have always wanted to do something that would help others (such as joining the Peace Corps, habitat for humanity, the army reserve, or the National Guard). I have talked to my parents and they don’t want me to lose the amount of freedoms I would if I were to join a branch of the army, but they said that they would be willing to pay for me to travel somewhere to help others in need. after watching your show today about plastic surgery and the research that needs to be done in order to keep yourself out of danger, I have realized that I should probably do the same to find a legit organization that would provide and opportunity for me to do some volunteer work. I don’t necessarily want to travel out of the country, but I would love to travel out of state at the least. Tyra, I know that you have an extremely busy life, and may not get a chance to respond to my e-mail, but it would be extremely helpful if you could give me some suggestions.
Thank you so much!
~whittney~
Ok. One great advice is to definitely not put salt on anything. Salt is horrible and can make you retain a lot of water weight.
I do not agree with eating a salad before the main course. I feel one should have a good filling appetizer that has protein such as edamame or peanuts.
The salad should be eaten before the dessert.
Sometimes when I want to skip dessert, I will chew orbit gum or eat chilled fruit.
hi tyra,
i absolutely love ya show! i watch it everyday religiously i think you're doing a great job, and you're sending a positive message to young women out there and i think that the world really needs people like you. i'm from the little island of grenada, in the caribbean and umm, i'm 5ft 2' and im 130 pounds, i've always been over weight, but the thing is i dont eat sweets cuz i hate chocolate and junk food i think i lack portion control cuz i looove food. please help me
Hello Tyra,
I love your show.
I am 14.
I am going into high school I am super Nervous
I dont no what to think of it
I am not Fat but i have a Gut.
My mom says i eat to much but i barly Eat anything.
What is your Advice on losing just the gut so I am not embrassed to go in a bikni go swimming
please Help me Tyra.
Do you think you can give me a little bit of Advice about high School too?
Hello Tyra,
I love your show.
I am 14.
I am going into high school I am super Nervous
I dont no what to think of it
I am not Fat but i have a Gut.
My mom says i eat to much but i barly Eat anything.
What is your Advice on losing just the gut so I am not embrassed to go in a bikni go swimming
please Help me Tyra.
Do you think you can give me a little bit of Advice about high School too?
hey tyra u rox u have helprd me soo much thanks
hi i live in new mexico. i am still a teenager but i am over weight already and i have been since a young child.can u help me lose weight it is the most important thing to me right now. my entire family is losing weight except me can u give me advise!!! thanks love candy
Try drinking a full glass of water before every meal. This fills you up so you don't desire to just keep eating.
Put away the salt and pepper shakers from your table setting. "Out of sight, out of mind!"
Temptation gone.....
HEY TYRA I BEEN TRYING TO LOOSE WAIGHT BUT ITS KIND OF IMPOSSIBLE I NEED YOUR HELP CAN YOU GIE ME SOME EXERSISING ADVISE AND SOME EATING ADVISE IM SO DESPERAT TO LOOSE THE WAIGHT I HAVE HAD THIS OVER WAIGH ROBLEM SINCE I WAS A KID PLEASE SEND ME SOME TIPS TO MY MAIL ADDRES AT maite.ceballos@yahoo.com please help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hey
my daughter has a hip disorder and she got it at age 7 and she was a skinny girl at the tim age 10 she was over 120 pounds and about a size 12 and now age 13 almost 14 and now size 20 22 and about 230 what can she do her hip doesnt tell her do anything she has not been able to to Pe like every one else since 3 grade she eat chocolate but she not post to she has reacts to it but she doesnt care she eats because it takes the pain out of school.
she wears a jacket everyday and she never takes it of, she is start high school and im afraid what will happen
any tips.
Sandy
HEY TYRA I AM A TEEN AND I AM OR WAZ FACING EATING ISSUES WHEN I WAZ 12 AND IT WAZ HARD FOR ME TO STOP.NOEW I AMA YEAR OLDER AND I AM NOT LIKE THAT ANYMORE . BUT I WACHT UR SHOWS EVERYDAY OF THE WEEK And i am inspired by your topics and inthusiamsn with the audience . i also wacht antm and i love that show sooo much i wacht it seens i waz about 43 years old and i am a good runway moldeer and allythat
love mim love you trya
hey tyra.
I live in Sri Lanka. I watch your show evryday i cn. I love your show very much. I hv a problem. Everybody is telling me i'm really fat. They keep bugging me with my size. I dnt eat much. But I'm getting fat everyday. Can you tell me a way to become slim? Plzzzzzzz....! i'm begging you
Hi Tyra,
My husband and I watch ur show all tha time and we luv u. He is always saying that ur a freaky lil something when u do provocative things on ur show...he says it in a kidding way though. NO DISRESPECT.... He luvs that about u. Anyway, we love ur down to earth and caring attitude and how u connect with ur guest. One day we will be blessed enough to come to one of ur live shows. Keep up tha good work and GOD bless.
hey tyra!!!
my name is carol and im from south africa ,i love your show so much and i make it a point to watch your show when im not at school as they view it during noon and at that time id be attending classes.I am currently studying at THE UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG im doing my first year this year.just wanted to let you know that i really admire the wonderful work that you do....KEEPIT UP GIRL!
will you please post me more info or something about how to go about losing belly fat and getting a nice flat tummy.I am currently getting to be self conscience about my body...PLEASE HELP!!!
Hi Tyra
I look at your show all the time I love the show I would like to lose weight for my wedding next year I hope sometime its hard to save I would like to lose about 80 pound I would love to see a picture of me smaller picture of me with the 80 pound off I think it would motive me a little more we really don't have the money to have a wedding but we are going to try and save for it we have 3 boys my first baby was a girl her name was Destiny but she pass alway she would have been 6 year old. I am 27 I miss her some day its harder then others like her b-day and the day she past away. I do mean to sobber some time I can't help it. Good Luck Gone Girl With Your Bad Self
Hey!!
I live in New Zealand and i was just wondering why our beautiful country is not on your list of places??
When i subscribed to your newsletter i had to say that i lived in Hawaii cause i thought that was the closest place. If you could and find the time e-mail back and tell me why this is.
Oh yea and WE ALL LUV U HERE IN NZ AND WISH U LUCK 4 THE FUTURE AHEAD.
You are such a great role model 4 everyone out there.
Cheers Kristy.
Hi Tyra,
I can't find the e-amil link that youre supposed to be able to click on so I thought I'd just write something to you here since my issue pertains to myself. I have a HUGE forehead and am really self consious about it. I don't even go to pool parties and I hate being out in the wind because I feel like everyone's staring at me cause it's so ugly. I have tried bangs but still I really want to swim but I always make up excuses in front of my friends because I don't want them to see me with my hair all back and out of my face where you can see my forehead. Any tips?! Please help
Tyra I tend to eat a lot of healthy foods, which helps with keeping me at a maintainable weight. Lately I've been cutting out coffee and soda out of my diet and I feel better and what not. I now only stick to juices, milk, and water. I have to say to anyone that drinks, cut back, its a weight gainer, unless you drink one red glass of wine, then your not helping maintaining the weight. Its okay to have a sliver of cheese cake or a small bowl of ice cream once in awhile, but if you do it every night, then you have to stop, if you can that is. Its about will power to and believing in yourself and feeling you can do this, you can get healthy and feel great. So forget ice cream on a hot summer day, and opt for some plain yogurt with fresh fruit that you can cut up and mix in with it instead, its yummy, healthy, and you'll thank yourself in a week that you didn't eat the ice cream instead...
Hi Tyra,
I love your show. You have very informative and interesting shows. I learn a lot. I was in the audience for the show with Chris Brown last year but was unable to view it. I tried searching your website for that show but was unable to find it. I was wondering if you can help me.
To keep myself from overeating because I've waited too long between meals by keeping a can of unsalted pistacios in my car and at my desk. I also read eating 10-12 nuts between meals makes your appetite go away.