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Want To Decrease Your Dinner Calories? Change The Size Of Your Plate

May 13, 2013 By Penny Klatell, PhD, RN 1 Comment

12-inch-to-10-inch-dinner plateDoes the size of your plate make a difference other than for convenience?  You bet it does.Since 1960, the size of the average dinner plate has increased 36%. Today’s dinner plate measures 11 to 12 inches across — a few decades ago they were 7 to 9 inches. A European plate averages 9 inches and some restaurants use plates that are about 13 inches across.

We Feed Our Stomachs And Our Eyes

We eat most of what’s on our plate regardless of the size of the plate.

Six ounces of cooked rice with a little chili looks like a good-sized portion on an 8 inch plate. The same amount on a 12 inch plate would look paltry and most of us add more — increasing both the portion size and the calories.

When you switch to a smaller plate you eat a smaller serving. You eat, on average, 22% less when you switch from a 12 inch plate to a 10 inch plate.

Go Small – But Not Too Small

It sounds too good to be true, but using smaller dishes can also help you feel full even when you’re eating less. Studies show that people are more satisfied with less food when they’re served on 8 inch salad plates instead of on 12 inch dinner plates.

But — be careful not to go too small with your plate.  With too little food you might end up going back for seconds. A plate 2 inches smaller than the one you normally use is probably about right.

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Filed Under: Calorie Tips, Healthy Eating, Food Facts, Eating with Family and Friends, Food for Fun and Thought, Lose 5 Pounds in 5 Weeks, Manage Your Weight Tagged With: decrease your calories, eat less, lose weight, manage your weight, portion size, size of dinner plate

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  1. Reduce Your Plate Size and Save the World! | Lydia's Flexitarian Kitchen says:
    April 21, 2014 at 2:00 am

    […] There’s no denying portions are larger and our plates have increased in size in order to accommodate them.  In the 1960s the average plate size was 9 inches. Today it’s not unusual to see 11 or 12 inch plates. Coffee mugs and cereal bowls have gotten bigger, too. The increase in plate size can account for greater than 20% increase in intake. (Source One and Source Two) […]

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