You're kidding....right!

[forthe100thtime]

This is what 50g of uncooked pasta looks like....about 35 spirals..... Portion distortions is right...when I measured out what I would normally have cooked up for me it was 1.5 times more than this, almost 150g. New battery for scales is a must, as is weighing out amounts!!! 

[muffintop67]

I know it doesn't look much does it! I usually have 60g uncooked which gives you 150g cooked pasta.  I dry fry an onion, large courgette and a load of mushrooms and add some low fat pasta sauce then stir in the pasta.  Once it is all together it looks loads more so I kid myself.  I always have to weigh it out - too risky not to. It just shows you how big our portions were before we started being aware of them. Hope you enjoy your dinner anyway

[Foodie87]

I so agree with you on this one! Even if you look at what you get dished up at a restaurant - you'd think they'd sell you a portion not a meal for 4...

It's the reason I try to stay away from pasta and rice, it just seems too little even when using my smaller bowls... 

[forthe100thtime in reply to Foodie87]

well it certainly made me rethink how I order at a Italian restaurant - looks life a couple of side salads, one pasta dish and perhaps a small starter all at the same time would be enough for a family of 4....and a lot cheaper!!!

[Son1 Maintainer]

I'm still struggling with this one I have to admit as I do a big pan of it and share it all out with the family (with other bits in it) so it's difficult to estimate.  I was surprised to see what a small amount a portion is and I was waaaay over that before - no problem!

[kantara71]

Yes it is a bit of an eye opener isn't it? 

Maybe the main reason I put on weight is the portion control. Weighing everything, especially pasta, spuds, rice etc is a must for me now IF i have them! 

[Hidden]

It is very eye opening to see how much we should be eating, as opposed to old habits. 

I realized for me, I was following my old lose weight regime. Which was clean food as they call it. Mostly steamed, veggies, fat free protein etc., the problem was that I was still adding lots of  carbs. What has changed and why didn't it work for me? The issue was I had forgotten that I no longer work out at gym every single day for three or four hours!! and had a lot of personal trainer friends who ate the same as me. (Yes, I was a gym addict). 

That was me THEN. 

This reminded me, of input and output and the fact that I hardly work out at all now. In fact I am just simply unfit. I always hated the notion that people who gained weight were presumed to sit around and eat all day, cakes, donuts, processed foods etc., I've never done that. 

I see where I went wrong when I weigh my food. Much easier

[idlekt]

I normally have 80g of pasta, though I have recently got a spiralizer and am having half and half. I have to weigh everything out too - cereal/muesli was the biggest shock when I first started years ago. I think I must have been eating about 5 portions of cereal in each bowl before!

[forthe100thtime in reply to idlekt]

its crazy isn't it! you think you're doing the right thing, but it can be so damaging! how on earth the Slimming World diet works where you can eat unlimited amounts of pasta and potatoes is beyond me!!

[Hidden in reply to idlekt]

Love the idea of mixing pasta!

[Diana]

It seems a normal portion to me, I guess I've just adjusted, packed out with protein and veg, it looks a lot more, I eat half a portion of rice and weigh a 1/4 American cup, seems ok to me.

Weigh always

[Hidden]

I like this post as it is so true and I remember this feeling! Well done for weighing!

[Nelliecat4 Maintainer]

35 twists of pasta is such a useful measure - I'm going to remember that!  Thank you

[Venusflytrap]

I'm another one who has 60g as a serving and bulks it up with veg.  Strips of carrot or courgette into the spaghetti, etc.  I also do it with brown rice and cauliflower riced.  Seems to work.