Get Familiar With Portion Sizes

“If you’re mindful of portion sizes you can say goodbye to calorie counting,” says Kerri Major, a registered dietitian and SENr sports dietitian, and author of The Dietitian Kitchen. “It can be useful to look at the recommended portion size on food packaging and see what you’re eating in comparison with this.

“Using your hands to get a rough idea of an appropriate serving size can also be a really useful tool. This is never going to be 100% accurate but it’s a simple and useful way of helping you get the right portion sizes.”

Here’s Major’s general advice for the portions that make up a balanced meal.

• Protein 1 palm-size portion
• Carbohydrates 1 handful of complex carbohydrates, typically wholegrain varieties
• Vegetables 2 handfuls of non-starchy vegetables such as broccoli, mushrooms or salad leaves

Healthy fats 1 thumb-size portion

Additionally, a portion of fruit is one piece of whole fruit, like a banana, or one handful (approximately 80g if you have scales to hand), and Major advises aiming for three portions of dairy or dairy alternatives a day. “Portion sizes of dairy vary depending on the product,” says Major. “Again, I recommend checking the food label, which usually indicates an appropriate serving size.”

Of course, what’s exactly right for you depends on a number of things, including how active you are. If you’re unsure how much you should be eating, Major suggests seeing a registered dietitian.