Portion Distortion

Did you know that one cup of pasta equals one serving? At many restaurants, our favorite pasta dish may contain as much as three cups of pasta. With that much delicious pasta sitting in front of us, it's hard to stop at the recommended serving size, and we overeat.
 
Eating Out. Portion sizes at restaurants (including fast food places) are usually more than one serving, do choose smaller portion sizes.

TIPS:

Order an appetizer and a leafy green salad with low-fat dressing.

Share an entree with a friend.

Get a "doggy bag" and save half for another meal.

In North Carolina, look for Winner's Circle restaurants that identify heart healthy choices on their menus.
Eating At Home. Read food labels to determine serving sizes. Being aware of serving sizes may make it easier to avoid those extra calories.

TIP:

Always read the Serving Size entry of the Food Label. For example, did you know that one bowl of cereal may actually count as two ¾-cup servings?
 

Five a Day

Eat at least 5 servings of vegetables and fruits per day. When you're adding fruits and vegetables to your diet, try substituting them for higher calorie, less nutritious foods.

Check out the Eat Smart Move More NC Web site or the CDC 5 A Day Web site for great information on the 5 A Day Nutrition Program, suggestions on how to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet, and healthy recipes that meet the 5 A Day recommendations.