nutrition tip of the day

this is from the body+soul website (see whole living tab under good health). i thought it was a great reminder to double check your portion sizes. i think we're so used to big portion sizes at restaurants and even at home.

one tip they mention, which i do for mealtime, is to forgo the family style serving and fill your family's plates at the stove. i find that it's much easier to reach for more when it's right in front of you, rather than getting up and walking to the stove for another helping. try it and see what you think.

If you don't have easy access to a food scale, it's helpful to use everyday objects to visualize healthy portions. Lisa Young, Ph.D., R.D., author of "The Portion Teller Plan," offers the following visual cues.
1/2 cup pasta or rice = half a baseball

1 teaspoon oil = water-bottle cap

3 ounces meat, fish, or poultry = deck of cards

1 ounce bread = CD case

1 ounce hard cheese = 4 dice

1/4 cup nuts = golf ball

1 potato (white or sweet) = computer mouse

2 tablespoons salad dressing = shot glass

First Published: January/February 2008