People think of portion control as a way to watch their weight, but it is also a very effective way to watch your grocery savings too.
- Some of the costly food habits you might have
- How to change your food mentality
- Tips for cutting your food costs that require little effort
TAKE ACTION:
- Have storage containers on hand to portion out your meals
- Swap out your dishware for smaller plates and smaller bowls
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Tip 1: Store leftovers away before eating, not after
Decide before making your meal how many portions you are aiming to make. Then, after you finish cooking, immediately pack and store away any portions for leftovers that you weren’t intending to eat today.
TIP:
Eating out? Restaurant portions tend to be way more than you need for a single meal.
Save leftovers to squeeze out another meal. That way, you save yourself some time and money.
Tip 2: Use smaller dishware
Everyone has a natural tendency to fill up their dish or bowl whenever they are grabbing food, without thinking about whether they will actually eat it all.
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- To plan with ingredients you already have on hand
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Bonus Tip: Use your hand for reference
If you’re out and about, you can use your hand as a guide for portion size. In general:
Hand Symbol | Portion Size | Food |
Fingertip | 1 teaspoon | Mayonnaise, butter |
Thumb | 1 tablespoon | Salad dressing |
Handful | 1-2 ounces | Snacks |
Palm | 3-4 ounces | Protein, starches |
Fist | 1 cup | Grains, fruits, vegetables |
We have a handy (heh heh) printable reference guide for portion size that includes which food groups and approximate calories for each of these hand symbols. It’s part of our food budget planner pack, designed to help you slash your food bill.
Tip 3: Wait before going back for seconds
It takes a little bit of time for your body to register that you are full, so you need to give it a chance to figure that out before you go straight to getting more food.
TIP:
Drink water or another beverage before that 5-10 minute lag after your meal. It’ll help you feel more full and more conscious of if you really want to have seconds.
Easy steps to control your food portions
As a recap:
- Before you start cooking, decide how many portions you intend to make
- After you are done cooking, immediately pack up any portions intended as leftovers and store them away
- Use smaller dishware when plating your current portion
- If you thinking about going for seconds, wait 5-10 minutes after eating and then ask yourself if you are still hungry
Conclusion
Eating less means saving more. Save money by using portion control to slim your waistline while you fatten your wallet. Learn how to use portion control to lower your food budget!
TAKE ACTION:
- Have storage containers on hand to portion out your meals
- Swap out your dishware for smaller plates and smaller bowls
SPREAD THE WEALTH, SHARE THIS POST!
LEARN MORE TO EARN MORE:
AUTHOR BIO
STACY, aka AUNTY CHANG, is a personal finance blogger set on a mission to show people that there's more to money than just the numbers. With two rental properties and a six-figure 401k by her 30's, she's on track to retire early without sacrificing work-life balance to get there. She wants to teach others how to identify their goals and use money to make them happen. Dual income, no kids, based in Hawaii.