The importance of portion size estimation
Energy balance and nutrients intake
Balance in energy intake and energy expenditure is crucial to maintain a healthy weight. We often don't meet our energy needs and consume larger amounts of food, without being aware of it. Which leads to weight gain. The ability to accurately estimate the portion size is very important to be aware of how much food we consume, and therefore help us not only to control body weight but also to follow dietary recommendations and guidelines. Moreover, accurate portion size estimation is crucial also for health care professionals to accurately assess patient's energy and nutrient intake.
Why is portion size estimation so problematic?
Grams, cups, spoons, servings ...
Estimating and selecting the appropriate portion size can be confusing due to the existence of inconsistencies between measurements units. Different measurement units are used around the world, and although most countries use the metric system, household measures such as cups and spoons are frequently used as food measures. International difference in the size of measuring cups can be even more confusing for consumers and many European countries do not use cups in recipes, in dietary recommendations or on food labels, which makes the assessing of food portions even more difficult. In addition, the various terminologies and definitions for food portions, such as standard serve sizes; portion sizes; recommended serve sizes, can confuse the consumers even more.