To achieve or maintain a healthy weight, you need to make sure you’re eating the right amount of food.
Packaged food, take-away food and restaurant meals have been getting bigger over the last few decades, and are now served in very large portions.
We may think bigger serves are better value for money, but they’re actually costing our health a great deal more!
To help keep to healthy portion sizes, try using a smaller plate, avoid going back for seconds and freeze leftovers.
At main meals, aim to fill half your plate with vegetables, one quarter with protein (eg: meat, chicken, legumes) and the last quarter with carbohydrate (eg: rice, pasta, potato, bread). Including more vegetables at meals doesn’t just increase fibre intake and your feeling of fullness after a meal, it can also help you manage your weight.
More information on portion sizes, and the latest Australian recommendations, can be found
here. The
Australian Guide to Healthy Eating also contains recommendations for daily eating, not just main meals.
If you have specific requirements, it’s best to talk to an Accredited Practising Dietitian or see your GP.