Best Portion Control Plates For Adults That Can Help You Loose Weight
If counting calories, points, carbs, fats or calculating macros is not for you then portion control might be a better option to help you lose weight and live a healthier life.
You can portion control on your own, or make life a bit easier for yourself with a portion control plate. This article was written entirely for this purpose, to help you to find the most suitable portion control plates on the market and to compare them with ease.
Portion control can benefit everyone. Let’s face it, not everyone adheres to the serving portions outlined on the package, or the ones recommended by medical professionals. So many of us are guilty of just eating to our heart’s content and that’s the end of the story.
Well, it’s no wonder over 70% of Americans , and 39% of all adults are overweight. This puts us at greater risk of certain conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, and certain cancers.
The solution to this is simple, watch what you eat. With a proper diet, you can lose at least 1-2 pounds without even setting foot inside a gym. You don’t even have to feed on veggie sticks and tofu. It’s as simple as choosing an appropriate portion control plate!
Portion Control Plate Buying Guide- What ‘s Important
When buying anything for the first time, you’ll need a sort of reference that will help you find the best one for your particular needs. This buying guide contains all the essential elements you need to look for when choosing a portion control plate for the first time.
Is it easy to use?
The whole point of portion control plates is to make watching what you eat easier. Therefore, the plate itself shouldn’t be too complicated to use or hard to understand. Ideally, potion control plates for beginners will have labels or some sort of indication of what goes where, for example, grains in this compartment, meat in the other, carbs here and veggies in this slot.
If the plate has adjustable compartments, you shouldn’t have to be running to a user manual, googling tutorials or making someone else for help when it’s time to adjust. It should be intuitive or at least simple to figure out and use.
Is it durable?
The plate should last you for quite some time so you need to look for one made of durable material. Plastic is perhaps the best if you’re clumsy and used to breaking ceramic or glass. Wooden plates are cute but they can start to dry rot after a while.
Can I transport it easily?
If you have to travel for work, then you may want to take your portion control plate along with you to stick to your dietary plan and to avoid overeating.
The plate should be one that you can easily slip into a bag without fear of it getting damaged during transport. It should be easy to fit and won’t require additional storage space especially when you prefer to travel light.
Is it easy to clean?
Keeping plates clean is very important since dirt, bacteria, and grime can quickly accumulate. The portion control plate you buy should be easy to clean with simple soap and water, and if you have a dishwasher, it shouldn’t be affected by hot water.
If it is a material that will start to strip if you apply hot water or bleach, then it isn’t ideal. Wooden plates are generally absorbent if they don’t have special coating and bacteria can seep into micro crevices that are beyond the reach of your washcloth. On the other hand, ceramic, plastic, and glass are not porous and moisture will slide right off or accumulate on the surface, making it much easier to clean.
Does it have enough slots?
Different portion control plates have different numbers of slots. If you’re going to have a dinner of mashed potatoes, beef, greens, and mac and cheese, then a portion control plate with only three slots won’t be enough. Unless you plan to force two of these items into one slot, but this would defeat the purpose. If you know your meals are more basic, there’s no need for a portion control plate with 6 slots when half of it is going to be empty.
It is always better to have slots and don’t need them than to not have and require them. An ideal plate will have adjustable slots or 3-4 slots.
Is it in my budget?
Portion control plated vary in price and the one you choose must be well-suited to your budget. This does not mean you should automatically choose the cheapest one and try to save a few bucks since you may only get a few uses out of that plate. On the other hand, the most expensive plate isn’t necessarily the best option for you.
After considering the aforementioned factors, you will be able to determine the value of the plate for your money. Be sure to read the reviews since this can give you unbiased insight on how well the plate will function and help you figure out if the plate is worth it for that price.
Now, you can think about things like design and color since you’re the one that will be seeing and using it every day. If it’s ugly, it can have an impact on your mood, so choose wisely.
With these things considered, you’re just about ready to take a look at some actual portion control plates. Since there are many of them on the market, we took some time to find the top 5 portion control plates that are perfect for beginners and are the best value for your buck. Have a look:
Top 5 Portion Control Plates for Weight Loss Reviewed and Compared
Health Beet Portion Control Plate – Choose MyPlate for Teens and Adults, Nutrition Plate with Food group Sections, 10″ – English Language (Single Plate)
Cost: $8.95
Amazon rating: 4.4/5
The Health Beet Portion Control Plate is an affordable option for someone who isn’t looking for something too fancy and is someone experienced with portion control.
The Health Beet Portion Control Plate can come as a single plate, or you can get it in a set of 4 for your entire family or just to have in case one gets broken or misplaced. This plate is divided into 4 color-coded sections, namely fruits, vegetables, grains, and protein, not by an actual divider but by printed fractions of a circle which complements the shape of the plate perfectly.
Another interesting thing about this portion control plate is that you can get it in either English or Spanish, so you can easily gift it to a Spanish speaking relative or child.
This plate is made of plastic but isn’t bendy or flexible. It’s completely sturdy so you won’t have to worry about food spilling. It is washable, completely dishwasher and microwave safe and has a streamlined shape so there are no sharp edges or corners.
Pros
Cons
Rehabilitation Advantage 3 Compartment Portion Plate with Lid (Set of 2)
Cost: $12.95
Amazon Rating: 4.4/5
The Rehabilitation Advantage 3 Compartment Portion Plate with lid comes in a set of 2 and was designed to make watching how much of what you eat simpler. This plate isn’t just for adults such as yourself and can be used by children and adults of any age since it’s made of plastic.
The plate comes in avocado green and features dividers that split it into 3 sections that are marked vegetables, proteins, and carbs. It also comes with a snap-shut lid that makes it perfect for storage in the refrigerator or for transporting the container safely. If you ever have to leave the dinner table to go to the bathroom or attend to your kids, all you have to do is pop the cover on and your food will be protected from flies or dust.
If your food gets cold, you don’t have to reheat it in a separate container since the Rehabilitation Advantage 3 Compartment Portion Plate is microwave-friendly. When you’re done with your meal you can easily clean this plate by popping it in the dishwasher or handwashing it.
Pros
Cons
Meal Measure 66700 Portion Control/Weight Management Plate
Cost: $9.47
Amazon Rating: 4.1/5
If you already have tons of plate, there may be no need to buy an entirely new one just because it comes with dividers. What if you could buy a divider that you could use with any plate?
Well, that’s where Meal Measure 66700 Portion Control/Weight Management Plate comes in. This plate was designed to work on any plate so that you can measure your servings accurately based on USDA my pyramid serving sizes.
You can get this plate in either red or blue and it features a series of labeled cavities, with labels such as fruits/vegetables, starch, and protein that are precisely one cup at the top with a half cup line on the inside. These slots are the same except for the protein slot which is approximately the height or a deck of playing cards, so anyone can use it for any diet. When done, simply lift the divider plate off your plate and voilà, your meal is served.
Not only does this plate take the guesswork out of portion control, but it is also easy to clean and is dishwasher safe. When done with it, simply pop into a drawer or your cupboard until it’s time to eat again.
Pros
Cons
La Boos Round Dish Healthy Separation Plate, Cereals, Vegetables, Protein, Keep Health Ratio Per Meal, Lunch Plate, Dinner Dish (Round Dish)
Cost: $18.95
Amazon Rating: 4.7/5
If you are not a fan of plastic and prefer eco-friendly products, then you may be interested in La Boos Round Dish Healthy Separation Plate since it is made entirely of bamboo. This plate is perfect for persons who eat organic since bamboo is a natural material and is worth the cost of a sustainable product.
The plate has an elegant round design and deep slots which make it perfect for liquids such as soup or cereal with milk, that will stop it from spilling into the next slot. This design follows USDA guidelines as its four slots are divided into the following proportions: 38% Fruits and Vegetables, 32% Grains and Cereal, 18% Protein and 12% for your favorite snacks and treats. There’s also the option of getting a square design from the seller with the same portioning so it really is up to you what you’d prefer.
This plate comes with a booklet on how to care for it since bamboo is a natural material and you can’t treat it like you would a regular plate. This means you can’t store anything in it overnight, place it in direct sunlight or expose it to humidity or use abrasive scrubbing pads to clean. It is however easy to wash with mild soap and water which should happen as soon as possible to prevent staining.
Pros
Cons
• Not microwave friendly
Marianne’s PLATE (Melamine Word Portion Plate)
Cost: $8.45
Amazon Rating: 4.4/5
Marianne’s Plate is a great option for when you aren’t looking for something that is both budget-friendly and attractive. Printed on the food side of the plate is the portions of vegetables/fruits, protein and starch you should consume. Instead of lines, the slots are actual words that indicate the type of food you can put in that section. So, the vegetable/fruits section will have words like cucumber and lettuce, while the protein and starch sections have words like pork and chicken, and pasta and rice respectively. The sections are also color-coded in red, yellow and green so you won’t mix them up or get confused.
Marianne’s plate is made of melamine, a sort of durable plastic that is food safe and easy to clean. It’s 10 inches in diameter but has approximately 7 inches of eating surface to keep meals small and to avoid overpacking. The plate is dishwasher safe, however, it’s not recommended that you slip this plate into the microwave for reheating.
Since it’s a flat plate that doesn’t come with dividers, it’s easy to store among your other plates and can be used by anyone in your home. It’s lightweight, beginner-friendly and all in all an inexpensive way to portion control.
Pros
Cons
• Not microwave friendly
Final Advice
Choosing a portion control plate is the hardest decision you’ll have to make regarding watching how much you eat since it does all the work for you.
If you’re a beginner, you’ll probably want to go with a plate that has actual dividers like the Rehabilitation Advantage 3 Compartment Portion Plate, the Meal Measure 66700 Portion Contol/Weight Management Plate or the La Boos Round Dish Healthy Separation Plate.
If you’re already familiar with portion control plates then you can go ahead with the Health Beet Portion Control Plate or Marianne’s Plate.