Locations:
Search IconSearch

How Much Are You Really Eating? Perception vs. Reality

Watch this demo featuring a breakfast, a snack and a meal

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

How Much Are You Really Eating? Perception vs. Reality (Infographic)

Want to stay trim and keep your heart healthy? Choosing nutritious foods is important. But you also need to pay attention to portions, say Kate Patton, MEd, RD, CCSD, LD, and Julia Zumpano, RD, LD.

To find out if your portions are on target, check the Nutrition Facts panel on the food’s packaging. Look for the number of servings in each container and the nutrients per serving. If you’re routinely eating more than one serving, you’ll need to do some multiplying to determine the amount of calories, fat, sugar and salt you’re actually eating.

To help you, we contrast typical portions with actual serving sizes for the popular foods above. Here are their true serving sizes:

  • Cereal: One serving = 1 cup for unsweetened, 3/4 cup for cereal with dried/dehydrated fruit
  • Trail mix: One serving = 1/4 cup
  • Chicken breast: One serving = 3 ounces for women, 4 ounces for men
  • Broccoli: One serving = 1 cup (helps meet daily goal of 2.5 cups veggies)
  • Rice pilafOne serving = 1/3 cup

Advertisement

Learn more about our editorial process.

Related Articles

Macaroni and Cheese
September 3, 2024/Nutrition
Rani Testing Decoding Your Hunger: Are You Really Hungry or Not?

There’s a fine line between emotional and physical hunger

Colorful fruit, vegetables and nuts combined in bowl and scattered on table
March 15, 2024/Nutrition
Phytonutrients: What They Are and Where To Find Them

These typically colorful plant-based substances provide various health benefits that help protect you from disease

Hand holding an artichoke over a basket of artichokes
February 23, 2024/Nutrition
10 Health Benefits of Artichokes

This unique-looking veggie is fiber-dense and antioxidant-rich, and can improve the health of your gut, liver and heart

spinach, carrots, peppers
July 12, 2023/Nutrition
Eat the Rainbow: The Health Benefits of Carotenoids

Great for your body, these pigmented nutrients give fruits and veggies their vibrant hues

table with loose black tea, kettle and honey
July 10, 2023/Nutrition
How Black Tea Can Benefit Your Health

Flavonoids in black tea are good for your health, helping prevent strokes and heart disease

Mango salsa in small wooden bowl with chips in background.
Mango-licious: The Top 6 Health Benefits of Mango

A mango a day may help keep hunger and bloating away

jar and spoonful of quinoa
June 30, 2023/Nutrition
The Health Benefits of Quinoa

This versatile seed is packed with protein and fiber to ward off hunger

Person preparing a red bell pepper by slicing it up to eat.
March 29, 2023/Nutrition
The Health Benefits of Red Bell Peppers

Pick red peppers to help fight cancer, memory decline and joint pain

Trending Topics

Sliced beets.
5 Health Benefits of Beets

This ruby-red root is chock-full of vitamins, fiber and more

6 Myths About Joint Pain and Arthritis

Getting the facts straight about osteoarthritis

variety of food allergens such as eggs, milk, wheat, shellfish and nuts
Warning Label: The Big 9 of Food Allergens

More than 90% of allergic reactions can be linked to these foods

Ad