A: Mary Wilson, R.D. says ” Absolutely! Portion sizes are bigger than ever! Sure you may have had a salad or a turkey sandwich at lunch, or a bagel for a snack. But is it a huge restaurant salad with chunks of cheese and bacon and creamy dressing? Does the turkey sandwich have half pound of meat on a sub roll? Is it a huge five-ounce bagel loaded with cream cheese?

Managing our weight means increasing physical activity and watching portion sizes. And small changes do make a big difference over time. Just cutting your fat intake by one teaspoon per day can help you lose almost five pounds per year.

To keep your weight at a healthy level, it’s a good idea to take a close look at how much you really eat. Here are a few tips:

1. Share a restaurant entree with a friend or bring home half for the next day’s lunch. Round out the meal with fresh fruit.
2. Look at the serving size on the Nutrition Facts label. Are you eating twice that amount? If so, double the calories listed for one serving.

Most of us eat more than we think. For one day, measure your cereal, pasta, meat, parmesan cheese and other foods to determine your serving size. Learn what one serving looks like and modify your portions accordingly.

Remember that there are some foods you should be eating more of; Vegetables, fruits, and grains. So load up on low-calorie veggies and cut down on fatty meats, cheeses, sweets and treats which are loaded with calories.”

For more information about portions:
www.gethealthyclarkcounty.org