The Unexpected Gadgets That Help Manage Portion Control
We live in a world where we are constantly bombarded with messages about what to eat, how much to eat, and what has the perfect portion size. It can be overwhelming and challenging to make healthy eating choices, especially when our meals are supersized and our snacks come in jumbo bags. Portion control is a key component of maintaining a healthy diet and managing weight, but it’s not always easy to do. Thankfully, there are unexpected gadgets that can help us conquer portion control and make healthy eating a breeze. In this article, we’ll explore some of the gadgets that you may not have considered for managing portion control. Get ready to take control of your eating habits with these unexpected gadgets.
The Importance of Portion Control
Before we dive into the gadgets, let’s take a moment to understand why portion control is important. It’s no secret that obesity rates are skyrocketing, and a contributing factor to this is our portion sizes. Over the years, our perception of a “normal” serving size has become drastically distorted. What we consider a normal portion now would have been considered a super-sized meal a few decades ago. Our plates, bowls, and glasses have also increased in size, making it difficult to judge what a healthy portion actually looks like.
Portion control is a way to manage the quantity of food we eat and can help us lose or maintain weight, improve our overall health, and reduce our risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. It also allows us to enjoy a variety of foods while still staying within our calorie needs. With portion control, you can have your cake and eat it too (just not the whole cake).
The Unexpected Gadgets That Help Manage Portion Control
Measuring Cups and Spoons
Measuring cups and spoons may seem like an obvious gadget for portion control, but they often get overlooked. These simple tools can be used to measure precise amounts of ingredients, making it easier to control our portions. They are especially useful for things like rice, pasta, and cereal, where it’s easy to overestimate how much we’re eating. You can also use them to portion out snacks like trail mix or chips, so you don’t mindlessly eat from a large bag.
Portion Control Plates
Portion control plates are designed with sections for different food groups, making it easy to visualize and control portions. They also usually have outlines or graphics to indicate portion sizes for specific foods. This is helpful for those who struggle with estimating portion sizes or for those who need a little extra help in sticking to serving sizes.
Digital Kitchen Scale
A digital kitchen scale is a handy tool for precise portion control. You can use it to weigh out ingredients and measure your serving sizes accurately. Many scales also come with a tare function, which allows you to subtract the weight of a bowl or plate, so you only measure the food’s weight. This is especially helpful when measuring out things like chicken or meat, where a few extra ounces can make a big difference.
Snack Size Containers
Having the right size containers can make a big difference when it comes to controlling portion sizes. Instead of snacking from a larger bag, portion out your snacks into smaller containers. This not only helps with portion control but also makes it easier to grab a healthy snack when you’re on the go. You can also invest in portion control containers that come with different sized compartments for different foods, making it easy to pack a balanced lunch.
Slow Cooker
You may not have thought of a slow cooker as a portion control gadget, but it can be a great way to manage your portions. When you use a slow cooker, you are usually cooking in bulk, which can lead to more significant food portions than necessary. Instead, portion out your slow cooker meals into smaller containers and freeze them for future meals. This way, you have pre-portioned meals ready to go, making it easier to control your portions and avoid overeating.
Dinnerware with Smaller Plates and Bowls
As mentioned earlier, our plates and bowls have increased in size over the years, making it challenging to eyeball portion sizes. Invest in smaller dinnerware, and you will be more likely to serve yourself smaller portions without even realizing it. This trick has been shown to help with portion control and weight management.
Food Hugger Covers
Food hugger covers are stretchy, reusable food covers that can help you control your portion sizes. Simply place them on top of your sectioned plate to cover any empty portion. This will encourage you to stick to the designated portion size for that food group and make your plate look full and appealing.
Conclusion
Portion control is a crucial aspect of maintaining a healthy diet and weight, and it doesn’t have to be a struggle. With the help of unexpected gadgets like measuring cups and spoons, portion control plates, digital kitchen scales, snack-size containers, and even food hugger covers, you can take control of your portions and make healthy eating enjoyable. Experiment with different gadgets and find what works best for you. Remember, small changes can lead to significant results, so take control of your portion sizes and see the positive impact it has on your health.
