-- By Brenda Jaeck Holistic Nutrition and Lifestyle Counselor, Lecturer and Workshop Facilitator Recently, while on vacation and eating out more than usual I took note of the astonishing size of portions served in most restaurants. Restaurants want us to leave happy, full and feeling like we received a good value for our money; hence, the oversized portions at most restaurants. They have gone past the point of no return. I believe this has also skewed our view on what a portion REALLY is – even in everyday life. When eating at New Age (Health Spa) with guests I often hear comments like “hum, the portions seem small” at the beginning of the meal. At the end of the meal, I often hear comments like “I’m pleasantly satisfied and full, not stuffed or bloated.” This is true for a number of reasons – first, we are serving “normal” portions, not oversized portions and second; the food that is controlled in portion sizes (protein and grains) is supplemented by an unlimited amount of vegetables (in the form of soup, salad and vegetable sides). So, what IS a portion? For protein items (chicken, beef, beans, etc…) you can use the visual of the size of the palm of your hand. If you think about a 16 ounce steak (a whole POUND!) – this is MUCH bigger than the size of your palm. I was in a restaurant recently that served 18-ounce hamburgers. They even took your picture to hang on the wall if you finished it! Another example of a deceiving portion size is the “snack pack” bags of chips and such. They are packaged as exactly that – a snack. However, if you read the nutritional label you’ll actually discover that they are sometimes 2 ½ servings! For grains, a serving is a half of a cup (for smaller grains like rice) to a cup (for larger grains such as some pasta shapes). Think about this in comparison with a family-sized plate of pasta served at most restaurants. Cereal portions can be confusing, as there are many different sizes of flakes, nuggets and squares. For example, a serving of Grapenuts is ¼ cup, whereas a serving of toasted oat squares is ¾ cup. As such, when eating cereal is important to note the serving size listed on the box. Another way to create more consciousness around portion control is to eat the foods that are more nutrition dense and filing first. For example, starting with a large salad and/or vegetable based soup. This is a great way to get more veggies into the diet and restrict consumption of more dense foods, like those normally contained in entrees. This is a GREAT plan, as it almost forces the issue of controlling portions on items that SHOULD be more restricted. In the end, it’s about creating awareness about what you are currently eating and what is a real portion. Reading labels is good way to start educating yourself. Brenda Jaeck has a telephone based Nutrition and Lifestyle Coaching practice where she guides people to a better place of balance using food as a focus and a tool. She also runs group programs and conducts workshops and retreats.

"Restaurants want us to leave happy, full and feeling like we received a good value for our money; hence, the oversized portions at most restaurants. They have gone past the point of no return." About the Author Brenda Jaeck is a Holistic Nutrition and Lifestyle Counselor, Lecturer and Workshop Facilitator. You can visit her site www.seedstochange.com. You can also reach her at 917-213-9305 or by email at brenda@seedstochange.com. You may also like... Himalayan Crystal Salt Lamp Nature's ionizer--purifies the air you breathe. Breathe Relaxation Box In our daily lives we often have to remind ourselves to breathe. Quiet Days CD This CD is comprised of an hour of music carefully selected to help discover and strengthen your true essence. Contact Us Policies Articles About Our Gifts Customer Feedback About Our Jewelry

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