What is a Serving Size?

Have you ever wondered how much a serving really is. Well, pull out your box of Raisin Bran, grab the milk a bowl and a spoon. Now fill up your bowl with cereal pour on the milk and get ready. This is around four servings. On average a single serving of raisin bran is � cup cereal and � cup milk. If this was all anyone ever ate for breakfast refrigerators world wide would be open for raiding by 9 am.

Fruits and vegetables are no different. The U.S. government has stated we should consume 5 to 9 servings of fruits and veggies a day. To think about eating 9 apples a day or chomp down half a dozen carrots is overwhelming. Take a look at what constitutes a serving.

FRUITS

? 1 medium piece of fruit, this is not the fruit size you get from Harry and David, this is about the size of a closed fist.

? � cup chopped fruit, measure this out it really is not that much fruit.

? � grapefruit

? � small cantaloupe

? � cup fruit juice, make sure this is 100% juice. Try fresh squeezing your own juice. A small citrus juicer is extremely affordable and available at most department stores. Many of the large where house stores are now carrying the Jack Lalane Power Juicer. The price is affordable and it works well for in home juicing.

? One dozen grapes

? � cup berries

? � cup dried fruit

VEGETABLES

? � cup chopped vegetables

? 1 cup raw leafy vegetables, this makes for a small salad. If measuring the vegetables each time feels to restrictive try marking a plastic cup with a one cup line or measure one cup into a small bowl and mark where the bowl should be filled to.

? � cup vegetable juice. The commercially marketed vegetable juices are a good option; however, if you want to control the sodium in your juice try a power juicer. The juice tastes fresh and you feel good after drinking it. Many of the power juicers come with recipes that liven up your juicing experience.

? � cup cooked dry beans

? � cup canned vegetables

? 1 medium potato, keep in mind the closed fist as an indicator of medium. This is a small closed fist, not an MBA player's fist.

? 6-8 carrot sticks cut 3" long

Once you know how much a serving is that 5-9 serving recommendation is not so overwhelming. Some handy tips, measure out in your favorite bowl how much a serving is. Mark where the serving comes to this way you can fill the bowl to this level and not have to measure each time. Try marking a plastic glass at � cup, this way you can fill the juice to the line and not have to measure.

Shauna Hanus is a gourmet cook who specializes in creating gourmet meal plans. She has extensive experience cooking with easy to find grocery items to create delightful gourmet meals. She is also the publisher of a no cost bi-monthly gourmet newsletter. Her newsletter is always fun and informational packed with tips and trivia you can use everyday. http://www.gourmayeats.com

---

Microwave Ovens and the Healthfulness of Microwaved Food

Microwave ovens do have benefits. They are certainly convenient. They... Read More

Prepare the Best Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Would you like to prepare the best Garlic Mashed Potatoes... Read More

Make-up or Mixing Methods for Muffins

When muffins aren't perfect, the first reaction is to change... Read More

50% Less Cooking

50% Less Cookingwithout hitting the fast food button! Don't you... Read More

Unique Cake Decorating With Flowers

Flowers as a Cake Decoration, unique and easy to place... Read More

Cool Summertime Cooking

Summertime--and the living is easy! But the kitchen is hot!!... Read More

Flax Seed Will Add A Little Extra Flavor To Your Recipes

Flax seed will add a pleasant nutty taste to any... Read More

10 Simple Kitchen Organizing Tips

A lot of the times we mean to get in... Read More

How to Choose the Right Smoke for the Right BBQ Dish

BBQ smoke is one of the easiest ways to add... Read More

10 Dishes Every New Bride or Groom Must Know How to Make!

Okay, you've either gotten married or are planning to pretty... Read More

Cooking Filet Mignon

Filet mignon is French, of course, with filet meaning "thick... Read More

Chinese Cooking Technique: Deep Fry

There are usually 2 ways of deep frying in Chinese... Read More

Gourmet Sauces, Rubs and Marinades - Give Your BBQ a Gourmet Kick

Many individuals agree that the sauce on barbecued meat is... Read More

Better Baking Technique: Is it Done Yet?

Are my breads, cookies, or cakes baked and ready to... Read More

How to Make Homemade Ice Cream (Without an Ice Cream Maker!)

COLFAX, WISCONSIN - June is Dairy Month and what better... Read More

Fine Tuning Bread Machine Mixes

Sometimes bread machines can be tricky. We were trying to... Read More

Pyrex Mixing Bowls ? A Kitchen Favorite

Pyrex mixing bowls typically come in sets of 3 with... Read More

Little-known Tips for Easy Holiday Baking

Are you wondering if you have the time to bake... Read More

Do a Dry Rub First

The debate on ribs has ended in my home. After... Read More

Do you own an AGA or RAYBURN cooker ?

The Cooker-rail....This is a novel way of increasing the drying... Read More

Cookware ? Whats In It?

Have you ever wanted to buy new cookware but didn't... Read More

Troubleshooting Cookies

If your cookies are too tough . . . You... Read More

Cake Baking Tip Guide

Successful cake decorating is all about preparation. Baking and preparing... Read More

Why do We Need to Knead?

Bread dough needs to be elastic in order to capture... Read More

Barbeque Grilling has Reached a Whole New Dimension

Grilling on the barbecue has never been more exciting. Not... Read More

What?s the Thick on Roux? Thickening Soups and Sauces

Soups and sauces can be thickened in a variety of... Read More

Secrets of Great Breads

Often we field questions about making great bread. Great bread... Read More

Baking Perfect Breads, Cookies, and Desserts

We're all looking for that perfect pie, or cookies, or... Read More

The Almighty Beer-Can Chicken

A popular method of cooking chicken in recent years both... Read More

Baking Bread and Your Freezer

There's a lot of bread in our freezer. In our... Read More

Two for One Dinners: Turkey

If you find leftovers boring, uninviting or downright "yuck," then... Read More

Bacteria and Food-borne Diseases

Types of BacteriaBacteria are all around us, in the air,... Read More

How to Prepare the Best Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Would you like to prepare the best Garlic Mashed Potatoes... Read More