Help with Portion Sizes
Monica Reinagel, MS, LD/N, CNS
Q. I eat rice every day, but what exactly does 1 cup of rice look like? Some say 1 cup is the size of a tennis ball, others say it’s more like a fist. Who is right?
Answer. Guidelines that relate various portion sizes to everyday objects like tennis balls or decks of cards are designed to be easy-to-visualize reminders. But if you find these unclear or confusing, you can always get out the measuring cup. Simply fill your one cup measuring cup with rice to see what a one cup serving looks like. Of course, there’s no need to use a kitchen scale or measuring cups to weigh or measure every bite of food. But it is a good idea to know about what various portion sizes look like to ensure that you’re not unwittingly serving yourself two or three times a “normal” portion.
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About the Author
Monica Reinagel is a board-certified licensed nutritionist, author, and the creator of one of iTunes’ most highly ranked health and fitness podcasts. Her advice is regularly featured on the TODAY show, Dr. Oz, NPR, and in the nation’s leading newspapers, magazines, and websites. Do you have a nutrition question? Call the Nutrition Diva listener line at 443-961-6206. Your question could be featured on the show.