It’s no secret that people are eating larger and larger quantities of food. Do you know what the recommended portion size is for a serving of meat? 3 ounces. (At most restaurants, the “petite” stake weighs 8 ounces. That’s 2.5 servings!) As I was searching around the net, several sites suggested that 3 ounces of meat is approximately the same size as a deck of cards. I thought I’d find out for myself just how big (small) 3 ounces of meat really is. To the photo evidence!
This is a photo of 3 ounces of grilled chicken. (Thank you, George Foreman!) I’ve already sliced the chicken, for maximum accuracy. Now, let’s see how big 3 ounces is, using a common every-day item. (I looked for a deck of cards, but could not find one. So, I found an old phone card in my wallet and I used it. You could use a credit card, but only for this purpose 🙂
As you can see, 3 ounces of meat is slightly bigger, when sliced, than an average phone card. If I find myself in a pinch, now I have a tool that will help me determine how much I should be eating. 3 ounces of grilled chicken equal 150 calories. (Please note. Before I sliced the chicken, almost all of it “fit” underneath the card. Thickness? It’s about as thick as a penny is wide.) The deck of cards measuring tool is a good one. Now, I’ve got to reteach my body to eat. It will have to learn to be satisfied with smaller portions and eating smaller meals throughout the day, instead of extra large portions, consumed mostly at night.
I’ve been working on the post-dinner night time snacking issue myself. One thing that has helped is to brush my teeth soon after dinner. Extra well. With flossing. These helps with keeping me from wanting to eat later in the evening, because then I know I will have to brush my teeth again before bed. And I know I’ve already done such a good job of brushing.
Your mileage may vary, of course. It works well with my inclination to be lazy.