Everything You Need to Know About Portions

First, let us say this: Portions are personal! The portion size that’s right for you depends on what you’re eating and how much you need to feel satisfied while staying within your PointsBudget. The best way to learn that amount is to do some measuring. Start with portions of the foods with Points you eat most often. With time, you’ll train your brain to serve up the right amount automatically. This week try weighing/measuring the foods you eat frequently, using these steps.

Serve yourself.

What’s your typical portion? Whatever it is, dish it out. For example, put your usual amount of pasta into your usual bowl or plate.

Size it up.

Measure or weigh that portion, using cups or a scale. Now you know how much you’re actually eating.

Track it!

Use your WW app to find the Points value. (Hint: The barcode scanner on the top right corner of the My Day screen is great for finding packaged foods.) How does this impact your Budget?

Decide what works.

Does this portion work well with your Budget? Remember that you can bulk up any meal or snack with your ZeroPoint™ foods. A little less pasta with lots of sautéed veggies: lower in Points value and delicious!

Did you know?

You’re not alone if you think your favorite restaurant is piling plates higher and higher. Studies have found that some fast food portions have gotten five times larger than they were two decades ago! Research also shows that we’re likely to eat more when we have more food on our plates.

It’s in your hands

Out and about and unable to measure a portion size? There’s a handy trick for estimating an amount—just check out the illustrations below. Of course, not all hands are the same size, someasure yours against a few measuring spoons or cups to know what you’re working with.

Get a prep start

Looking for serving-size guidance when you’re packing up nuts, dried fruit, or anything else you munch on the go? Try our Portion Control Snack Stacker with three perfectly-sized containers you’ll use all the time.