Many times it’s not so much what foods we eat; it’s how much we take. Many of us have been taught since we were little children to clean our plates. What we’re talking about is of course portion control. Some people enjoy measuring and weighing determining that they have exactly the right amount of food and if that’s your preference then there’s all sorts of ways to do this with an incredible degree of accuracy. If that doesn’t appeal to you then consider trying one or several of the suggestions that follow you might find these enjoyable or at the very least easy enough to do that they will help you in a tremendous step by step way experience the same results.

The portion you eat or drink may be larger than you think, especially compared to the amount recommended for a whole day. Keeping tabs on how much you eat and balancing out bigger amounts over time with smaller amounts or more physical activity are just a few small steps to help you manage your portion sizes. Or, try these tips—the choice is yours!

• The smaller your plate, the smaller your portion. Eat your meals at home on a smaller plate. Before going back for seconds, wait 10 or 15 minutes. You might not want seconds after all.
• Dish it out. When you order fast food, picture the food on a plate. Even better, take it home and put it on a plate. If you’re surprised at how full the plate looks, order smaller sizes next time.
• Portion out your snack on a plate, not from the bag, to stay aware of how much you’re eating.
• When dining out, order an appetizer instead of an entree. If you order an entree, take the leftovers home, refrigerate and enjoy another meal or a snack tomorrow.
• Buy or portion out treats and snacks in small bags or packages. Remember, it’s what works for you that is the most effective in helping you manage the amount of food that you eat. Whether you like a routine or variety these and other ways can be simply wanted to time incorporated into your lifestyle so that you will suddenly find the task of managing the food that you put in your body much easier than you’d ever believed it would be.