Visualize the Right Portion Size

Visualize the Right Portion Size

October 22, 2004

Healthy eating includes making healthful food choices and understanding serving sizes.

It can be difficult to visualize a half-cup or three ounces, let alone “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 tennis ball
  • 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
  • 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. 

Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team

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