Strategies to control portions

Losing weight and eating healthy may seem difficult. You may be unsure of how much you should eat to lose weight. It can be difficult to estimate portion sizes. Using the visual cues listed here will help you get close to actual recommended serving sizes.

Here are some ways to help judge a healthy portion.

Fruit — One serving is equivalent to a tennis ball:

• 1 medium whole fruit
• 1/2 cup of chopped, cooked or canned fruit

Vegetables — One serving is equivalent to one or two baseballs:

• 2 cups of raw, leafy vegetables (two baseballs)
• 1 cup of chopped, cooked or canned raw veggies (1 baseball)

Grains — One serving is equivalent to a hockey puck:

• 1 slice whole-wheat bread
• 1/2 cup of cooked pasta, potatoes or rice

Protein foods — One serving is equivalent to a hockey puck:

• 3 ounces of cooked meat

Fat — One serving is equivalent to one die:

• 1 teaspoon butter, margarine or oil

Get additional healthy weight resources, and learn more about losing weight.

Jamie Pronschinske is a registered dietitian nutritionist in La Crosse, Wisconsin.