I love food, which means that I love going back for seconds, and sometimes even thirds. But I also know the importance of consuming healthy-sized meals, not so small that I don’t get enough sustenance and not so large that my waistline will suffer.

Let me share with you some of my tricks to help keep your portions down.

Now you’ve probably heard this one before; it’s an age-old hack that’s stood the test of time, and it involves a trick of the eye. When dishing up, choose your plate or bowl wisely. If you go for something smaller, this will make it appear as though your plate or bowl is fuller and will also limit the amount of food you serve up. Using excessively large dishes will encourage you to serve yourself a much larger serving without even realising.

Another way to keep your portions down is to make a salad, perhaps packed with leafy greens, cucumbers and avocado, to accompany your main dish. I love eating this first – sometimes while I’m even still cooking the main event! This will take up more room on your plate, leaving less room for the star of the show, whether it be a rich tomato spaghetti, a herby risotto or a veggie stir-fry.

Alongside a salad, I always like to accompany my meal with a glass and a jug of water on the table. It helps me stay hydrated and fills my belly, but it also helps me slow down my eating pace so that my body has time to digest and give me a wave when I’m full. In fact, the science suggests that sometimes when you think you’re hungry, you’re actually just thirsty!

This last trick is one of my favourites. When plating up, fill up a container before you start eating to put in the fridge for lunch tomorrow. This makes it much less tempting to go back for seconds, and will help control your portion size and control your wallet tomorrow when it’s time for lunch.

If you're looking for some healthy meal ideas, check out this article: 5 easy vegan meals you can meal prep this weekend.

The information contained in this article is provided as general information only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For personalised medical advice, always consult your qualified healthcare professional.