On-Hand Tips for Portion Control!
In our current environment, we are frequently exposed to food portions that do not resemble the
standard serving sizes specified by the USDA Food Guide Pyramid. The typical portions of foods
served in restaurants or purchased in convenience stores and other vendors are extremely large
and may distort your perception of an appropriate serving size.
Use these objects to help remember your portion sizes!
One Tennis Ball = 1 cup vegetables or 1 medium fruit
A Hockey Puck = 1/2 cup pasta, rice, potatoes, or cereal
One Ping Pong Ball = 1 tbsp peanut butter, salad dressing, butter,
mayonnaise, sour cream
One Deck of Cards = 3 ounces of cooked meat, poultry, or fish
or Palm of Hand
A Computer Disc = 1 ounce of sliced cheese
A Computer Mouse = one medium baked potato
For kids snacks like pretzels, crackers, popcorn, trail mixes, and cereals, use the
snack-size bags or small plastic containers for portion control. Moderation is
the key to a balanced diet along with being active throughout the day!
Developed by Joan Knoll, Licensed Registered Dietitian
Bismarck Public Schools
Phone: 323-4096; email [email protected]