FP Approved Portion Control Plates by Adiana Castro

What is it?

Portion control plates are an interactive tool to help people eat appropriate amounts of food. The plates have varied circle sizes on the plate designated for different food groups. The largest circle is labeled for vegetables; the medium size circle is intended for starches (i.e. grains, pasta, potatoes, peas, corn etc.) and the smallest circle is for protein. In other words, your plate acts as a guide to help you eat nutritious and proper amounts of food.   

Portion control plates from Slimware caught our attention with their great artwork. Their plates currently retail at $34.95. The plates have 6 different modern designs that include Jubilee, Belladonna, Central Park, Sunburst, Urban Safari and Downtown Chic. For more information you can go to: www.slimware.com
 
Why are people buying it?

American food portions are on steroids! Portion distortion is so problematic that creating a portion plate helps people identify the right amount of foods needed. It is a simple and quick method to eat right. The plate does not rely on counting calories to eat healthy but provides a visual lead on how to eat.

Portion plates are a great resource to help with weight management along with daily physical activity. The total amount of food is being limited but nutrition is being maximized by encouraging more vegetables. Everyday people makes multiple food choices, the portion plate drives those food choices to healthier options.  

Public health focus?

Portion control is a critical issue in weight management. Unfortunately, we live in a toxic environment that promotes high fat, low fiber, high processed carbohydrate and low micronutrients foods. In addition, we eat outside the home more frequently where the portions are oversized and we then bring that distorted portion size to our plates at home.

The goal of the portion control plate is to slow us down, enjoy our food and the eating experience. When we eat in mindfully we can listen to our body’s cues of hunger and fullness. In the end eating should be a pleasure not a chore.

Why we approve it?

Food psychology plays a huge role in our environment. The average American does not eat mindfully and is often unaware of how much, what and why we eat what we eat.  We take cues from our environment when it comes to food and how we eat. In other words we tend to rely on external cues instead of listening to our bodies hunger cues to control portions. During the past few decades, food trends have changed the size of our plates to look more like platters. As a result, we tend to overeat because of the perception on our plates. The portion plates can be wonderful way to fit all the foods you love. The tool is not to take away foods but to help one make flexible and sensible choices. The key is moderation.