Eat better by exercising your portion control

Diets come and go, but one constant is the idea that it’s not so much what you eat but how much you eat. Try using these tips from ShopSmart magazine to exercise better portion management:

Create a visual feast. You can play a trick on yourself to help deal with smaller portions. Make sure your meal is colorful and has several different elements so that you can arrange them on your plate in a pleasing way. What was once a tiny meal is now a radiant potpourri.

Heap it on. So you can’t eat as much meat or carbs as you might like — that doesn’t mean you have to skimp on vegetables. Pile on some water-based veggies that are not only a delight to chew but an effective way to mask a limited portion of something else.

Contain it. That fish or chicken filet looks awfully lonely on your plate. Why not wrap it in a tortilla with some shredded lettuce or a similar vegetable?

Downsize your treats. An occasional treat is not a crime. When you get home from the market, divide any junk food into sensible portions. This way you’re much less likely to overeat.