With the increase in the amount of food people have been eating over the past few decades, you might be confused about what a serving size really is.  Here is a fun way to look at serving sizes:   

Meat, fish or poultry (3 oz.) = a deck of cards

Rice or pasta (1 cup) = a tennis ball

1 potato (white or sweet) = a computer mouse

½ cup cooked vegetables = a baseball

1 oz bread, toast or 1 pancake = a CD case

¼ cup nuts or dried fruit = a golf ball

1 tablespoons peanut butter = a ping-pong ball

1 oz. hard cheese = 4 dice

1 teaspoon oil = a water-bottle cap

Family Fun Activity: Get a set of plastic measuring cups 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, and 1 cup.  Measure out the suggested food items below if you have them or substitute other items with similar serving sizes.  (See the Nutrition Facts food label for serving sizes on packaged foods.) Then put the food item in a bowl or on a plate so you can see what a serving size looks like displayed to eat.

1/4 cup almonds or raisins

1/2 cup berries, cooked vegetables, or 1/2 cup of ice cream

3/4 to 1 cup (the serving size of most dry cereal)

1 cup cooked rice or pasta

If you eat chips, count them out according to the serving size listed on the package, it is usually about 10 chips to a serving.

Take a good look at what a serving really is. Are you surprised? 

Love, Health & Happiness,

Phyllis