Food-Group Portions: Portion sizes vary by food and food group. For example
1. 1-ounce portion of grains equals 1/2 cup of pasta or rice.
2. One slice of bread or 1 cup of ready-to-eat breakfast cereal. 3. A 1-ounce portion of protein equals one egg; 1.5 egg whites; one-half of a soy burger; 1 ounce of poultry, seafood or lean meat; 1/2 ounce of nuts; or 1/4 cup of cooked legumes. 4. A teaspoon from the oils group equals one-sixth of an avocado, 1 tablespoon of Italian salad dressing, 1/3 ounce of nuts or seeds, 1.5 teaspoons of peanut butter, eight large olives or 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil.
Sample 1,600-Calorie Menu:
Water +/- 3 liters per day
Breakfast - 303 calories
3 egg whites, 2 slices of whole-grain toast, 1 tablespoon of peanut butter and 1/2 cup of strawberries. Snack - 149 calories 1 cup of honeydew melon and 1 ounce of reduced-fat cheese.
Lunch - 389 calories
1 veggie burger on a whole-grain bun, 2 cups of leafy greens, 1 tablespoon of Italian salad dressing and 1 cup of soy milk.
Snack - 201 calories
includes 1 cup of fruit-flavored Greek yogurt.
Dinner - 368 calories
1/2 cup of cooked quinoa, 1 cup of cooked asparagus, 2 teaspoons of olive oil and 3 ounces of grilled chicken breast.