Portion Control Scoops

From tahini to blinis: serve the right amount!

The FDA agrees

The FDA has recently released a report about how to fight weight gain and the data points to portion size. The evidence has been so convincing they have implored restaurants to join in the effort to reduce the average size of portions. If you're wondering, "what is a portion control scoop?" Look no further than your kitchen's utensil drawer. Most homes have an ice cream scoop that is essentially a portion control scoop.

How it works

There are numbers that are used to identify portion control scoops. Scoop numbers correspond to the number of portions it takes to equal one quart. For example, in a #16 scoop, there are 16 portions to equal one quart. A quart is 32 ounces, so a #16 scoop holds 2-ounce servings. The scoop can make sixteen 2-ounce servings per quart.

How to use scoops at home

Most ice cream scoops are #8 portion control scoops. They will yield eight 4-ounce servings (1/4 cup) in a quart. So if you're on the run and you need to measure your favorite foods such as mashed potatoes, pasta, vegetables, rice, and cereal that ice cream scoop may just be the tool. If you need to be sure poor water into a measuring scoop then transfer it to the ice cream scoop to make sure they are the same. As with all measuring scoops, the food being measured should be level to ensure a correct amount.

Another way to put that scoop to work is to do weekly advanced preparation. Scoop in hand you can prepare a number of dishes that you can freeze and eat throughout the week. Everything from rice portions to taco meat can be quickly portioned and packed away for the convenience of you or any member of your family. Caloric intake can be quickly determined because of the uniformity of each scoop. If you desire to lower or raise your daily intake this can be done without the need to purchase expensive prepackaged foods.

Many find that incorporating a number of differing sized portion control scoops with vacuum sealing systems can make for a simple sure fire way to bring piece of mind to your diet. If you need to make five or six meals per day for each day of the week having multiple scoop sizes seems to make sense, no? Pasta can be combined with sauce or rice with chicken so that ratios can be assured and the dish will be made correctly and deliciously.

More information on scoops