1. It’s Like Portions to Servings
A portion is the amount of food you eat. A serving is a standardized measurement, just like a cup or a quart. Knowing the difference will greatly improve your effort to cut calories. A single serving of meat is the size of a deck of cards, while a single serving of a side dish like a vegetable or potato is the size of a tennis ball. A single serving of bread is just one slice. Practice eating portions of correct servings and you’re sure to see some weight loss.

2. All Things in Moderation
Sure, you can purchase special portion control plates that only hold small amounts of food. Or you can buy pre-packaged foods to eliminate the need to worry about portion control. That said, the simplest way to effectively control calories is to cut your current portions in half. Fix your plate as you normally would, then return half of what you’ve dished out. Moderation is key to eating enough, but no more.

3. Share and Share Alike
When you go to a restaurant, order one meal and two plates. Most restaurants routinely serve double or even triple the amount of food recommended by nutrition experts. By sharing your food you share an intimate meal with your dining partner, and ensure you’re eating only what your body needs instead of what your brain wants. If you want your own entree, ask your server to box half of the meal up for you and bring it to the table with your plate. This way, you control your portion and get lunch for tomorrow.

4. Feed Your Inner Child
Order from the children’s menu. The portions are smaller and so is the price. If the menu states it’s for the 12-and-under crowd, order it to go. You can still sit at a table and enjoy your meal. You might even get a cool toy to play with, but not until after you finish your vegetables.

5. Divide and Conquer
Make a grocery list and stick to it. Plan meals that are healthy and well-balanced, then cook up just enough food to feed your crew the appropriate serving sizes. If your family is still hungry, offer fresh fruits and vegetables instead of second helpings of potatoes and gravy. Divide snacks into small portions using resealable plastic bags or containers. Finishing off a small snack-size bag of pretzels is a much better than munching through a gigantic bag before you even realize it.

Livestrong.com