Smaller Portions May Get Kids To Eat Healthier

Here's a lunch tip: Giving kids smaller main dishes may help them learn about portion control. In a recent study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers found that serving smaller portions helps nudge kids towards eating more fruits and vegetables.

Results showed that increasing the portion size of kids' main meals would decrease their intake of healthier side dishes.

Exhibit A: When kids had more mac and cheese on their plate, they ate less of the applesauce and green beans on the side (about a quarter of the serving). When kids had less mac and cheese (less than half a cup), they ate almost half of their healthy side dishes.

Kids who had smaller entrée portions also consumed fewer calories than kids with larger portions.

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