Pare Back Your Portions

Watching serving sizes will help keep your waistline in line

(HealthDay is the new name for HealthScoutNews.)

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 13, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- As food portions in restaurants and homes keep growing, so do our waistlines.

More than half the American public are overweight or obese. That increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and other health problems.

Eating proper portions can help you bring your food intake in line with recommended servings and let you control your weight.

Here are some examples from the August issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource to help you estimate appropriate serving sizes:

  • An average bagel is the size of a hockey puck.
  • A cup of fruit is the size of a baseball.
  • A medium potato is the size of a computer mouse.
  • A medium apple or orange is the size of a tennis ball.
  • Three ounces of grilled fish is the size of your checkbook.
  • Three ounces of meat is the size of a deck of cards.
  • An ounce of cheese is the size of four dice.
  • A teaspoon of peanut butter is the size of the tip of your thumb.

More information

Here's where you can learn more about nutrition and healthy eating.

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