Key to smart eating? Recognize serving size

Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 25, 2002

Portion control is crucial to eating healthfully, but many of us are confused by serving size.

With simple visualization, you can learn to judge portions. For example, many food servings can fit in the palm of your hand. Try these tips:

• Three ounces of meat, poultry or fish is about the size of a deck of cards.
• A medium potato should be the size of a computer mouse.
• An average bagel should be the size of a hockey puck.
• One ounce of cheese is the size of four dice.
• One teaspoon of peanut butter equals one of those dice.
• One ounce of snack foods -- pretzels, etc. equals a large handful.
• One cup of milk, yogurt or chopped fresh greens is about the size of a small hand holding a tennis ball.
• One-half cup of cut fruit or vegetables, pasta or rice is about the size of a small fist.

- Information from Knight Ridder Newspapers, the American Dietetic Association (www.eatright.org) and www.shapeup.org was used in this report.

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