When it comes to food, portion control can be a touchy subject. No one wants to think about restricting themselves or their family from food. But sometimes it is necessary to do to make ends meet. If you find yourself in this situation, there are several strategies to employ in order to get through.
First, let us talk about the reasons that you might desire or be required to practice portion control when it comes to meals. You might find yourself with a reduced income due to a loss of a job, you might have an unexpected expense that makes it difficult to balance the budget at the end of the month, or you might simply have an important goal, such as starting a business or blessing others. I’ve heard so many heartbreaking stories of families who just have a hard time filling their bellies and others from those who sacrificed a little bit temporarily for a greater good later.
Whatever the reason, I’ll assume that you have already tried stretching the food budget in other ways, such as using coupons and sales, buying in bulk, cooking from the pantry and even taking advantage of local food assistance programs. Hopefully, the situation is temporary. But you now find yourself left with less food than you normally consume. What do you do?
The first thing is to take an inventory. Understand exactly how much you have left to eat or to spend on food. Make a list and develop a plan for the meals that you have to provide. This will help you to understand your resources and to use them wisely.
Budget your overall meal. Decide how much is available for each breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks and then divid it by the number of meals and snacks that you need. If you have additional money to spend, select food items that are nutritious, low cost and will fill you up–lettuce for a salad is a great example. Dry beans, rice and dry milk can also be low cost sources of food.
Next, divide the food you have for a meal by the number of people that you have to feed. Obviously, some people in the family will need to eat more than others. Usually parents will sacrifice for children, which I wholeheartedly agree with. Kids should not be restricted in their meals. At the same time, serve appropriate portion sizes so food won’t be wasted. Adults might want to keep some food aside from their own plates just in case children finish their portions and still want more to eat.
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