Updated September 04, 2014.

Do you struggle with sticking to one serving? Find yourself finishing an entire pint of ice cream or a big bag of chips in one sitting? These Hungry Girl tips and tricks will help you keep your portions in check...

Get to Know the Nutrition Panel 

Before you even bring a product home from the grocery store, it's helpful to know what the numbers on the package mean. Take a look first at the serving size and the number of servings.

These pieces of info will help you determine if the food is worth the calorie count. If the package has only one serving, good news: What you see on the label is what you get. If there are multiple servings, you need to do a little math if you're likely to consume more than the serving size. For example, a vitamin-loaded water may have only 50 calories per serving, but if there are 2.5 servings per bottle, the entire bottle has 125 calories. Ummm... Who drinks 4/10ths of a standard-sized water bottle?

Stock Up on Single-Serving Products 

Individually packaged products are great -- the portion control has been done for you! You can find single-serving packages of just about anything: ice cream, chips, cookies, popcorn... even peanut butter. You name it, and it is probably out there. But keep in mind, just because it's portion controlled, that doesn't mean it's a good use of calories. There are plenty of lame snacks out there, so choose carefully! 

Buy in Bulk; Divide into Portions 

Need to save money AND watch your portion size?

Here’s the deal: Buy multi-serving, shelf-stable items, but divide them into single servings as soon as you get home from the market. You’ll need sealable bags or containers for this, a food scale or measuring cups (more on those later), and a few extra minutes of your time, but it's totally worth it. 

Click for DIY 100-calorie snack packs! 

Journal, Journal, Journal

Food journals are essential when it comes to keeping your food intake in check. The key is to be honest with yourself. No one wants to write down that they’ve had three ice cream bars, but seeing the cold hard facts in front of you can stop you from making the same mistake twice.

Scales & Measuring Cups 

These tools are your friends. But fair warning: Weighing out your favorite foods can be a real shocker. (You mean I only get 6 crackers for 140 calories?!) Knowledge is power, though. Plus, getting into the habit of measuring out your portions at home will help you practice portion control when you’re out and about. 

Get info on when to weigh your foods and when to measure them right here!

Beware of Serving-Size Pitfalls 

Some foods are notoriously easy to mismeasure. Ice cream, for example. As it melts, the product gets more dense, and the serving size gets smaller... Yikes! And when it comes to cereal -- hot or cold -- people tend to fill a huge bowl with the stuff AND forget that milk adds calories. They purchase a product and assume their breakfast will have the same calorie count as labeled, but it could have two to three times as many. And then there are chips... The serving size often states "about # chips," but the true measurement is given in weight, usually 1 ounce or 28 grams. The takeaway information here? Use that kitchen scale, don't forget about add-ins, and read labels carefully!

Downsize Your Dishware

Try using smaller plates and bowls. No one wants a half-empty plate of food! Give yourself less surface area to work with, and you may find that you feel just as satisfied eating that smaller portion.

Supersized Portions 

While that last one can definitely help, if you're anything like me, a small portion of food is probably not going to be completely satisfying. That's why I supersize my meals and snacks using low-calorie foods. For example, did you know that portabella mushrooms have a meaty texture and are great for bulking up burgers and taco meat? 

For more on bulking up your portions with veggies, check out these great ideas. 

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