25 Easy Ways to Achieve Your Summer Body

21/25 Previous Next

© Getty Images / rawpixel

Get acquainted with proper portion sizes

Speaking of portion sizes, did you know you can roughly estimate them without measuring cups and spoons? Here are a few examples regarding proper portion sizes using your hand:

• Clenched fist = 1 cup (ex. veggies or rice)
• Cupped hand = 1/2 cup or 1 ounce (ex. nuts)
• Palm = 3 ounces (ex. meat)
• Fingertip = 1 teaspoon (ex. mayonnaise, mustard)
• Thumb = 2 tablespoons (ex. peanut butter, ketchup)

 If you keep these simple visual cues in mind, you'll have a better intuition when cooking and eating—to know when too much is too much and vice versa. Of course, if you really want to be precise about calorie intake, you're better off measuring your portions or weighing certain foods.