The British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) has launched a practical guide to portion sizes entitled ‘Find Your Balance’ which aims to help people understand not just which foods to eat, but how often and in what quantities, in order to maintain a healthy weight and have a balanced diet.
The guide uses simple hand and spoon measurements to help us estimate appropriate portions, when cooking and serving food. It is designed to complement the Government’s Eatwell Guide, which provides guidance on the proportions of the main food groups that make up a healthy diet.
To develop the portion size guidelines, BNF’s Nutrition Scientists reviewed portion size guidance from other countries, analysed portion sizes currently consumed in the UK, and what is available to buy in supermarkets. They were modelled in test diets to ensure they could meet current food and nutrient-based recommendations. Based on this, guidance was developed on how often to eat foods from the main food groups and sensible portion sizes for healthy adults, based on an average daily calorie allowance of 2000kcal.
In order to provide practical ways of estimating these portions without having to weigh out foods, the BNF devised easy to use measures for most foods, based on hands or spoons.
Source: BNF's press release