Portion Size

Portion Size

By Tanya Mancini
Steak Supreme

These days, many restaurants serve 18- and 24-ounce steaks, with some even weighing in at a whopping 48 ounces. That's a whole lot of meat. But what does a single serving of steak really look like?

Smaller Sirloin

The recommended size of a single serving of meat is about 3 ounces, or roughly the size of a deck of cards or a bar of soap. While it's difficult to order a 3-ounce cut of steak in most restaurants, it's a good idea to cut up your meat (or chicken) and take the rest home. Or, try sharing with your date.

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Overstacked

Whether pouring made-from-scratch batter in the pan, or tucking into them at a diner for brunch, most of us like our flapjacks stacked high and covered in syrup. But how much griddle-goodness is too much?

Smarter Start

A single serving of pancakes is actually one small pancake about three inches in diameter. If your goal is to lose weight, then your best bet is to enjoy a single pancake with fresh fruit as a topping.

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Too Rich

Many of us like to butter both sides of our bread and cover the bottom of a pan with margarine before cooking. Using that much saturated fat isn't the best choice for those watching their waistlines. A better bet?

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A Lighter Spread

Instead of slathering butter or margarine on your bread, lightly spread it on. One teaspoon is the recommended serving size, so be sure to measure it out carefully. Try to use both butter and margarine sparingly.

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Don't Go Nuts

Spread on a sandwich with jam or on top of celery sticks, peanut butter is one of our favorite treats. However, it's very easy to overindulge in this packed-with-protein (and fat) delight. How much is good for you?

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Just a Spoonful

As is so often the case, a little bit goes a long way. A large spoonful, or about the size of a ping-pong ball, makes up a single serving of peanut butter.

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Bread Basket Overload

Almost every convenience store and coffee shop sells tempting, giant muffins, some speckled with seemingly healthy chunks of fruit, others obviously closer to a dessert item -- packed with chocolate or cheese. Does one enormous pastry still qualify as a single serving?

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Think Mini

Take a closer look at the label of that giant muffin and you'll probably see that one is actually three servings! A single serving muffin is about the size of a light bulb -- the kind of muffins you'd make at home in a muffin tin.