Dear food people,
Proper nutrition is the foundation of a sustainable lifestyle and the key to lasting good health. As both a science and an art, mastering nutrition allows you to achieve natural weight loss with minimal effort.
In this series of articles, we explore vital health and nutrition facts that are commonly overlooked in modern times, offering practical insights to help you effortlessly improve your well-being. Our goal is to help you understand how nutrition works and how to incorporate simple health hacks for a better lifestyle.
As the old saying goes, you are what you eat.
Now, let’s get to it~
RESTAURANT PORTIONS
Restaurant portions are notoriously larger than what nutritionists recommend. This discrepancy arises from a few factors. Firstly, restaurants often aim to provide value for money, which can lead to serving sizes that are considerably more substantial than what you'd find in a standard diet. Additionally, larger portions can encourage customers to feel they’re getting more for their money, which aligns with common marketing strategies.
Research showed, the average portion size in many restaurants can easily be double or even triple the suggested serving sizes for a balanced diet. For instance, a recommended serving of meat is about 75 grams, but it’s not uncommon to find steaks or chicken breasts on restaurant menus that weigh in at 200 grams or more. Similarly, a standard serving of pasta is typically around 100 grams, but a single plate at a restaurant might offer 200 grams or even more.
This practice can have implications for our health. Consuming more food than needed in one sitting can lead to overeating, which might contribute to weight gain and other health issues over time. It’s not just about the extra calories but also about the imbalance it can create in our overall diet, potentially leading to an excessive intake of fats, sugars, and sodium.
One simple way to manage these oversized portions is to adopt a practical approach: share a dish or ask to takeaway half of your meal home. This strategy not only helps in keeping portion sizes in check but also ensures you get another meal out of your dining experience. This method can be especially useful in balancing your diet, ensuring you’re not consuming more than what’s nutritionally advisable, and also making the most of your meal investment.
3 Simple Health Hacks for a Better Lifestyle:
Share or Save: When dining out, consider sharing a dish with a friend or asking for a doggy bag to take half of your meal home. This helps manage portion sizes and prevents overeating, while also giving you a second meal to enjoy later.
Portion Awareness: Pay attention to portion sizes when cooking at home. Use smaller plates and bowls to help control how much you serve yourself. Measuring out portions can help keep your meals balanced and prevent overconsumption.
Mindful Eating: Practice mindful eating by taking your time to savour each bite. Eating slowly and paying attention to your hunger cues can help you recognise when you’re full, reducing the likelihood of overeating.
The information provided in our articles is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The content on our website, including articles, is not meant to endorse or promote any specific medical treatments, products, or procedures. The information provided is based on general knowledge and research at the time of writing. Medical practices and knowledge are constantly evolving, and what may have been accurate at the time of publication may not be current or applicable today.