Portion Control For Weight Loss: Tips To Measure Portion Sizes [UK] 2023

Most people know that what we eat^[1] can play a major role in determining the size of our waistline. But did you know that how much we eat at every meal — and how often we sit down to eat — can play a major defining role in our fat loss success, too?

The truth is, we now know that portion control for weight loss really works, especially if we choose nutrient-rich superfoods and avoid ultra-processed alternatives. But it’s not always easy to follow a portion control diet (after all, our favorite snacks can be so tempting!). That’s why this article will share the science^[2] behind effective portion control to help you blast through your diet goals in order to reach and maintain your healthiest weight yet.

What Is Portion Control?

To quote the Cambridge Dictionary, portion control is ‘the process of making sure that the amount of food you eat for each meal is not too large, especially when you are trying to lose weight.’

In other words, it reflects our ability to eat a yummy breakfast, nutritious lunch, or indulgent dinner that meets our energy needs without providing excess calories. But exactly why is it so important?

Why Is Portion Control Important?

Portion size is certainly important for our health, with a wide body of evidence^[7] reflecting its many positive impacts on obesity, body mass index, and general health. Choosing a portion size that is way too big has been linked directly, for example, to being overweight and obese, both of which are associated with many chronic diseases.^[8] 

Specifically, smaller meals more frequently can help to keep our blood sugar levels from falling (which can help in the management of type 2 diabetes^[9] as well as hunger levels), as it will make us less likely to crave calorie-dense, high-energy, sugary snacks. 

And finally, managing our portions will reduce our overall caloric intake. The tendency for supermarkets and restaurants to supersize their portions has been linked directly to a growing obesity crisis, so preparing food at home^[10] (rather than buying takeout or visiting a restaurant) can help us avoid excess, unneeded calories. 

Looking for a boost to your metabolic rate and your overall fat loss? Consider using one of the best fat burners on the market for a little extra assistance. 

How Portion Control Can Help You Lose Weight

Overall calorie consumption per day is not the only decisive factor in how many of the calories we eat are stored as fat or used for energy. How we divide those calories into separate meals can be important, too. For example, while a healthy diet can help you shed body fat, portion control-focused strategies^[11] (such as the use of smaller plates and chewing more when eating) can significantly mediate the overall number of calories that you ingest from a portion of food, and help you achieve dieting goals more effectively. 

Interestingly, the portion size effect,^[12] or PSE, explains how people are automatically likely to over-consume when served larger portions (one reason why eating out can be problematic when we are on a diet). We also know that when we consistently eat portions that are too large for our energy needs, we will gain body fat.^[13] And studies show this relationship between obesity and portion size generally holds^[14] across food groups, body types, and age ranges. So it’s pretty clear that if we want to lose weight, we must focus on how much we eat at each meal.

But here’s the problem. It sure is easy enough to talk a mean game about saying no to that second slice of pizza, but a lot harder to follow through. 

So that’s exactly why we’ve corralled the most effective strategies to help you out! Here’s how to control portion sizes most easily and enjoyably. 

How To Control Portion Sizes When Eating

The key to eating right is choosing foods that will fill you up, that taste good, and contain a low number of calories. You’ll need to think about eating less but having more frequent meals (which is fun, as you’ll never be too far, time-wise, from your next meal!). Staying hydrated and switching up your cutlery and plates for smaller versions can also help you stay on track. Read on to find out more!

Choose Superfoods Over Sugars

Research shows a direct link^[15] between consuming ultra-processed fatty and sugary energy-dense foods and the onset of obesity and fat gain. Conversely, eating superfoods (i.e., high-nutrient and antioxidant-packed, low-calorie mostly plant-based foods), can play a powerful role in weight loss. Superfoods include foods like vegetables, whole grains, seeds, quinoa, berries, salmon, soy, and brazil nuts. Opt for a wide range of them, and you will increase feelings of satiety at every meal, largely owing to their low glycemic index^[16] (the rate at which energy is released from food).

Even better, high-fiber options^[3] like leafy green kale can improve digestion. At the same time, the naturally high-protein^[17] and healthy fat^[18] content of superfoods like nuts and salmon will keep you feeling fuller for longer. And because of most superfoods’ low-calorie content, you can often really load up your plate!

Superfoods^[19] are also widely observed to reduce the risk of degenerative diseases and to provide a dense source of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients. If you’re struggling with incorporating them immediately into your meal plans, a great strategy can be to prepare a small green salad as an appetizer. This will immediately increase your fiber intake, helping you to feel more satiated.^[20]

Focus On Chewing Quality 

The speed at which you consume your food is considered one of the most important factors to consider in managing and preventing obesity. Ultimately, eating slowly lets you enjoy your food a lot more. You’ll also feel more satiated, and you’re more likely to experience a lower body mass index^[21] in the long term.

Don’t Supersize Your Plate!

There is evidence of the benefits of using smaller plates,^[22] bowls and serving instruments over a larger plate regarding portion control. For example, a study of the impact of plate size and portion control plates on children’s food choices reported that children ate more food when given adult-sized plates.

Stay Hydrated And Drink Water

Drinking a glass of water before every meal can help moderate weight loss by enabling us to remain adequately hydrated. A recent obesity study reported a significant association between inadequate hydration,^[23] an elevated body mass index, and the presence of obesity. 

Eat Breakfast

Skipping breakfast^[24] has been found in many studies to contribute to obesity. So don’t deny yourself — just make sure you’re choosing great, healthy choices, like an egg white omelet with kale and tomatoes pan-fried on whole grain brown toast. That way, you’ll consume fewer calories than with high-sugar cereal options, still feel full, and even benefit from a lower likelihood of weight gain in the future! 

Eat More Often!

Here’s the best news for anyone who doesn’t love to diet. Studies of meal frequency show that doubling your meal frequency^[4] (from the traditional three to six meals per day) is statistically significant relative to weight loss. It also notably improves glycemic control which means that your blood sugar levels are more balanced, and you’ll be less likely to experience hunger as a response to hypoglycemia.^[25]

Finally, if you’d like to focus on a more structured approach to weight loss and mindful eating, you can also check out a range of diets for more help and guidance.  

The Bottom Line

It’s worth remembering that effective portion control doesn’t only happen when we sit down to eat. A great night’s sleep will help to regulate the hormones ghrelin and leptin^[26] (the night before), which play a huge role in regulating appetite (the morning after!). After all, research shows that even one night of disrupted sleep^[21] can make mastering portion control much tougher. That means that prioritizing sleep hygiene should be a major goal for anyone hoping to lose body fat. 

Exercising regularly has also been proven to regulate appetite.^[27] So building in a brisk morning walk, gym session, or bike ride to your day might just provide the appetite-busting boost you need to stay on track!

The bottom line is this. Portion control might be easy to grasp, but it is a lot harder for most of us to achieve. And that’s because food is one of the greatest pleasures in life. But by relying on the tips and tricks we’ve covered in this article, you shouldn’t need to deny yourself those pleasures. The key is to eat smart, eat small frequent meals, and simply enjoy the many benefits of eating in a healthy way.

---