ADVICE

How to get your portion sizes right

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Woman serving food to daughter and partner

Dietitian Jennifer Low shares her top tips for sticking to healthy portion sizes

Eat for your energy needs

Eat for your body size and activity levels, not your partner’s. Women generally need to eat less than men, and sedentary workers less than manual or more active people.

Learn the perfect plate

Divide from different groups on your plate for a visual reference until you get used to the new quantities. Your plate should look like this: ½ veg, ¼ starchy carbs, ¼ protein, so you’ll be cutting energy density (calories) while boosting nutrient density (vitamins and minerals).

Use smaller plates

Take a stock check of your dinner plates and bowls. Have they gradually upsized over the years? By switching to smaller ones you’ll automatically be serving smaller portions.

Manage your leftovers

Instead of picking at leftovers after you’ve finished eating, decant them straight into a container to chill or freeze for another day.

Stay focussed

Avoid distractions while eating, such as watching TV or using your computer. Sitting at the table and focusing on the food will help you register when you’re full.

Use your kitchen

Plate up in the kitchen rather than at the table, so you don’t start tucking into seconds… or thirds.

Adapt recipes

If you’re eating solo and you cook a recipe for two or four, there’s a chance you’ll eat more. When cooking Healthy Food Guide recipes, you can adapt them by halving quantities. If you stick to the recipe, freeze the extra portions.

Don’t be afraid to leave food on your plate

There’s no need to clear your plate just because the food is there, or force your children to. It’s ingrained in many of us not to leave food on our plate, but it’s not helpful to override your natural fullness signals.

Try to concentrate on how you feel, as opposed to how much you think you should eat. You may be inclined to put less on your plate when you realise how much you actually need.

Need a snack?

If your downfall is picking between meals, choose nutritious snacks rather than those with ‘empty’ calories. Here are some satisfying options to bridge the gap: