Could New Dinnerware Be Your Key to Success?

By , SparkPeople Blogger
Control over what goes on our plate is an important but difficult part of weight management. There are a variety of products that can take the guesswork out of portion control as well as everyday items that can be used as portion size visual cues. Many predict the new MyPlate icon will serve as a visual teaching tool, helping people build healthy meals in correct portion sizes.
 
Some nutrition and health professionals use MyPlate food models to demonstrate correct portion sizes and meal planning. Since food models are expensive and are more directed toward educational settings, printable diagrams demonstrating visual cues on a plate provide a more helpful approach for home use. Now new dinnerware has emerged to help families make proper portion control a daily success.

The Portion Plate
These printed and divided plates can help you apply healthy portion control and meal planning habits each time you eat. The melamine plates are 9 ½ inches in diameter for adults and are dishwasher safe and contain food photos or pictures of everyday objects which are great for teens. The children's plate is also made of melamine and dishwasher safe but only 8 ¾ inches in diameter  with cute food people or child-friendly objects. For those with diabetes or pre-diabetes, there is a diabetes portion plate as well.
 
Precise Portions
If bold, colorful graphics and melamine plates are not what you want on your dinner table, these porcelain dishes might be more your cup of tea. If you want a teaching tool and nice dishes, the vine design with a printed food guide might be for you.  If you are looking for a less noticeable portion control plate, the Precision Portions Plate might be the perfect combination of teaching tool and style.  This elegantly styled china dinnerware was designed by dietitians and is 100 percent microwave and dishwasher safe. You can select 10 inch rimmed dinner plates or complete place settings that includes bowls with measurements from 1/2 cup to 2 cup portions and glasses that help you pour 4 oz or 8 oz servings. Instead of relying on scales or measuring cups for your day-to-day favorites, these pre-marked but attractive dinnerware tools keep your entire family on the right track.

This linked video explains how new dinnerware could help your family and friends eat within the US Dietary Guidelines without relying on weighing or measuring.

 
Tell us what you think about these new portion control tools.
 
Do you think products of this type will help people make smarter meal choices? What benefits or drawbacks do you see with portion control products that rely on visualization instead of exact weight or measure?