What Does a Portion Size Look Like?

When it comes to weight loss and maintenance, it is very important to understand serving sizes. It can be difficult, however, to visualize ½ cup, five ounces, or “one serving.”

Here are some everyday comparisons to help you figure out your serving sizes:

• A teaspoon of margarine is the size of the tip of your thumb to the first joint

• Three ounces of meat is the size of a deck of cards

• One cup of pasta is the size of a baseball

• One half of a medium bagel is the size of a hockey puck

• An ounce and a half of cheese is the size of three dominoes or six dice

• Two tablespoons of peanut butter are the size of a ping pong ball

• One-half cup of vegetables is the size of a light bulb.

Once you get a good sense of serving sizes, you can compare them to the amount you eat and make any necessary modifications.

 Getting a Visual...

	1½ ounces of natural cheese = 6 dice
	1 cup = a baseball ½ cup = ½ baseball
	½ cup of fruit or vegetables = a light bulb
	2 tablespoons = a ping pong ball
	3 ounces meat = a deck of cards
	1 teaspoon = the tip of a thumb to the first joint 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon 1 tablespoon = 3 thumb tips

What is a serving size of grain?