- If you have chosen a weight-loss plan that depends on restricting your caloric intake to work, every calorie counts, and a few extra bites of this or that can really make a difference. Portion sizes are paramount, so be sure to read the labels on every food you purchase. Many foods, like candy bars, contain more servings than you might think--they seem like single servings but can actually be two or three servings, making their caloric content much higher than expected. Choosing premeasured portions of packaged foods specifically designed to aid dieters, such as 100-calorie snack packs, can help you avoid foods with misleading labels and portion sizes.
- Oversized "value" packs are everywhere these days, and they are incredibly dangerous for dieters. It is much too easy to "eyeball" a serving that is several times the size it should be, or just to grab an extra handful from the oversized container. However, you can create your own premeasured serving sizes by breaking oversized containers down into premeasured single-serving portions, so you know exactly how much you're eating. Use a food scale for accurate measurements and snack size plastic baggies to store individual premeasured servings.
- Diet plans like Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig do the measuring for you. These diets require you to purchase their meals, which are premeasured to contain the exact amount of calories required to induce weight loss. This eliminates guesswork for dieters, which can be very helpful for those who don't want to weigh and measure their food. Many frozen food brands, such as Lean Cuisine and Healthy Choice, also offer premade, premeasured meals with built-in portion control. These are a convenient and readily available alternative to stricter weight loss plans.
