Sacramento Head Start Alumni Association

Visual aids make 'portion sense'

Dec 29, 2001

Confused about what a half-cup serving of vegetables looks like? The following visual cues can help you develop good "portion" sense.

Visual Cue Approximate Portion Size

(Food* = One FGP Serving of these Food)



About 1 cup

Food*: Green salad, frozen yogurt, medium piece of fruit, baked potato

Baseball
or Woman's Fist


Rounded Handful

About 1/2 cup

Food*: Cut fruit, cooked vegetables, pasta, rice



Large Egg
or Golf Ball

About 1/4 cup

Food: Dried fruit* (e.g. raisins)



Cassette Tape

About 3 oz.

Food*: Meat, Poultry



Checkbook
About 3 oz.

Food*: Grilled Fish



Six Dice
About 1/2 oz.
Food*: Natural cheese

*Equal to one serving from the Food Guide Pyramid for these foods . To learn more about the Food Guide Pyramid, see http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/Fpyr/pyramid.html


Cues for "Tip of the Pyramid" Foods
Rounded Handful
Approximate Size: 1 oz
Food: Pretzels or Snack Food

1 Dice
Approximate Size: 1 tsp.
Food:. Margarine, spreads

Thumb Tip
Approximate Size: 1 Tbsp.
Food: Mayonnaise, oils, dips