Recommended serving sizes

[OceanAnnie]

Real eye opener.

3/4 cup of cereal is not much. I have been eating about 2-3 times that amount. Easy. I'll add some yogurt and maybe a banana. I usually don't do that, but that little bit of cereal won't go very far!

Do you follow recommended serving sizes? I'm going to pay more attention to them.

 

[Darsa]

Heh, this is probably the one reason why I don't lose weight easily. I don't measure; I eat cereal "by the bowl".

 

[OceanAnnie]

I'm trying to lose some unwanted pounds. Baby steps.

 

[Wall-E1]

I switched to Fiber One brand cereals. The fiber makes you feel more full. If you look on most cereals, you'll see that they tend to have less than 10% fiber. Fiber One cereals have over 40% fiber. So, even though you are eating smaller portions, you still feel satisfied. Actually, their breakfast bars and yogurt are good also - high in fiber.

 

[FireDancer]

I would recommend keeping a food journal. It makes you look at the service size and nutritional information so you can journal it. There are often times that a single serving isn't enough, and that isn't inherently bad in iteslf, provided you know that you are eating 2 or 3 servings and chart it accordingly. This is also another example of marketing and why the important information on anything we eat is on the back of the box and not the front. The laws allow for some fudging of the numbers (you can round down in many instances) and taking some linguistic liberties with health claims. Sure, it might be labeled "only 100 calories" and then you realize that a single serving is 1/5 of what you imagined.

With food, much like most things in life, the key is information and you usually have to go find it yourself instead of relying on a marketing guy to actually inform you.

Good luck on the weight loss.

 

[mjkacmom]

I've always been a big label reader. I remember when I started dating DH, and had to explain to him that a pint of Ben and Jerry's was NOT a serving size (he was shocked!). Of course, this is when he had a 32 inch waist. 20 years later, he's pushing 38, so good thing I let him know early on!

 

[OceanAnnie]

I switched to Fiber One brand cereals. The fiber makes you feel more full. If you look on most cereals, you'll see that they tend to have less than 10% fiber. Fiber One cereals have over 40% fiber. So, even though you are eating smaller portions, you still feel satisfied. Actually, their breakfast bars and yogurt are good also - high in fiber.

I'll have to try Fiber One. Thanks. There is a lot to be said for feeling satisfied.

I would recommend keeping a food journal. It makes you look at the service size and nutritional information so you can journal it. There are often times that a single serving isn't enough, and that isn't inherently bad in iteslf, provided you know that you are eating 2 or 3 servings and chart it accordingly. This is also another example of marketing and why the important information on anything we eat is on the back of the box and not the front. The laws allow for some fudging of the numbers (you can round down in many instances) and taking some linguistic liberties with health claims. Sure, it might be labeled "only 100 calories" and then you realize that a single serving is 1/5 of what you imagined.

With food, much like most things in life, the key is information and you usually have to go find it yourself instead of relying on a marketing guy to actually inform you.

Good luck on the weight loss.

You are right. I need to do a food journal. I've done it before with good results. I don't have a lot to lose. A few inches here and there. My body is comfortable at this weight due to habits. If I truly think them through and do little changes and stick with them I'll see results. It's just been too easy to do what I've always done. I'm now committed. I'm watching the serving sizes and I even bought a food scale. So we'll see. Small changes over time.

I've stocked up on fruit. Usually when I have a sweet craving, I'll eat something chocolate. Now I'm turning to fruit. I really like the red oranges. They aren't too sweet, but sweet enough.

My mantra for health: Eat (better and) less. Move more. Nothing new, but it is true. It's easy to get caught up in what the day holds and go with old habits. Anyway, I have a stationary bike and some hand weights that I'm using. Too cold for outside activity. I do like to swim, but even indoors isn't appealing right now.

 

[MIGrandma]

I used to follow recommended serving sizes, then got away from it but now I'm back to doing it again. It really is amazing how much a serving actually is....or isn't!

I used to buy those 100 calorie pack snacks too, until I realized just how expensive they are. Now I just buy a box of whatever snack I want, and dole it out in single servings into little zip lock baggies. Much less expensive, and I'm still just eating one serving instead of mindlessly eating out of the box or bag.

 

[NYPDwife]

Check the serving sizes at the supermarket. Most sugary cereal is only 3/4 cup (some even 1/2!!!), but I think Total and Raisin Bran are 1 cup.

 

[Straitlover]

That's why I like Rice Krispies; the serving size is 1.25 cup - LOL!

Check out MyPyramid.gov for an eye opener on portions sizes, etc. The info I got from the nurtirionist came from that site for the most part. Boy was I surprised to find that an apple that I was eating and counting as one fruit serving was actually aobut 2 to 2.5 servings depending on the weight!

 

[OceanAnnie]

I used to follow recommended serving sizes, then got away from it but now I'm back to doing it again. It really is amazing how much a serving actually is....or isn't!

I used to buy those 100 calorie pack snacks too, until I realized just how expensive they are. Now I just buy a box of whatever snack I want, and dole it out in single servings into little zip lock baggies. Much less expensive, and I'm still just eating one serving instead of mindlessly eating out of the box or bag.

I sometimes portion stuff out but I do get some of the 100 cal. packs, too. I bought some almonds (not 100 cals, but individually portioned) and looked at the difference in weight and price. It was not enough price difference for me to switch to the loose nuts. I was surprised, that's usually not the case.

Check the serving sizes at the supermarket. Most sugary cereal is only 3/4 cup (some even 1/2!!!), but I think Total and Raisin Bran are 1 cup.

After I finish this box, I'm switching to high fiber and/or more allotment. I'm a hungry girl! BTW, hungry girl is a great website.

That's why I like Rice Krispies; the serving size is 1.25 cup - LOL!

Check out MyPyramid.gov for an eye opener on portions sizes, etc. The info I got from the nurtirionist came from that site for the most part. Boy was I surprised to find that an apple that I was eating and counting as one fruit serving was actually aobut 2 to 2.5 servings depending on the weight!

I'll keep Rice Krispies in mind. I usually pour a smidge of chocolate syrup over the top. I use less than what I would use if I chose sugar.

Thanks for the website. Even fruit is portioned?! Darn.

 

[pearlieq]

The recommended serving sized printed on packages are totally arbitrary.

I'm all for keeping portions reasonable, but if I want a 1.5 cup bowl of cereal, I'm not having half that because that's what the box said. I'll plan around what I'm actually going to eat.

 

[OceanAnnie]

The recommended serving sized printed on packages are totally arbitrary.

I'm all for keeping portions reasonable, but if I want a 1.5 cup bowl of cereal, I'm not having half that because that's what the box said. I'll plan around what I'm actually going to eat.

There's different ways of looking at it. I'm looking at the calories/fat/etc. per serving.

 

[NYPDwife]

I don't portion fruit. That's crazy! I figure fresh fruit and vegetables are good for you and as long as you're not smothering them in something, you can have as much as you want. Besides, you'll poop it all out anyway b/c of the fiber.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I don't portion fruit. That's crazy! I figure fresh fruit and vegetables are good for you and as long as you're not smothering them in something, you can have as much as you want. Besides, you'll poop it all out anyway b/c of the fiber.

I won't be doing that at least for a good while. It did give me pause though! I don't get the recommended amount as it is. I'm trying to change that. I'm doing well to think of fruits and veggies at snack times! I'm usually reaching for something quick and not so healthy.

I will take a look at the website though. I'm interested in how the chart has changed and the new recommendations.

 

[FireDancer]

I don't portion fruit. That's crazy! I figure fresh fruit and vegetables are good for you and as long as you're not smothering them in something, you can have as much as you want. Besides, you'll poop it all out anyway b/c of the fiber.

I think of vegetables other than potatoes that way but not fruit. I eat a lot of fruit but still pay attention to servings as fruit is loaded with sugars. It is natural sugar and not inherently bad in the right amount, but it is still sugar none the less

 

[java]

Actually it depends on the cereal. I was surprised on the serving size of cheerios on the upside It's a one cup serving at just ! It was more than I normally eat. So I stayed with my serving size.
It's just 140 calories for a one cup serving with 1/2 cup skim milk. (I add a banana some days some days not!)

 

[MusiqChic99]

I dont think just cereal would considered the healthy portion anyway. I would include some fruit and yogurt as well. Not just for staying full either. If you workout too you want to make sure you have fuel to burn!

 

[OceanAnnie]

I dont think just cereal would considered the healthy portion anyway. I would include some fruit and yogurt as well. Not just for staying full either. If you workout too you want to make sure you have fuel to burn!

Well, I was staying full with the super sized portion. But I agree I needed the fruit and yogurt as well. I had it today.

 

[NYPDwife]

I like to eat alot and if I'm not chewing, I'm not happy. I've discovered that chewing a piece of sugar-free gum after meals, not only cleans your teeth, but helps me feel happy by chewing. The only downside is you gulp air when you chew gum so you might get gassy. LOL