Wine-Trax portion control/measuring dishes: A Review

Welcome once again to this Health and Fitness blog. Here is another fascinating snippet of health related news for you to read all about:

A simple way to begin getting a handle on calorie intake is to get a clear picture of portion size and how much you need. All too often in the U.S. we are served portions that are far bigger than necessary. Because it has become the norm just how do we know when it is excessive even when eating at home?

A couple of weeks ago, when I finally managed to feel a bit more in control of my time after my move from one state to another, I started chipping away at my backlogged messages, mail, and newsletters. For too long, I had to let so much of it wait! However, I’m glad I didn’t simply throw everything in the trash out of desperation. Among other things I discovered I had an invitation to give the new portion control/measuring dishes made by the company Wine-Trax a trial run. I was intrigued!

 

My response to the query to test the dishes was more than 2 months late! Oops! However, I was pleased to receive a quick reply from the Wine-Trax Company. I wasn’t too late to try out their products. Awesome. Within just a few days I returned home from a day trip to find a UPS box on my doorstep. I love getting packages in the mail. It’s like Christmas!

 

Now if you’ve been a reader of my articles for some time you will likely know that I don’t recommend many products. The reason being I want to have an opportunity to get a good sense of the value of a product with respect to weight management. Will it actually be helpful and who would it help most?

Wine-Trax

To begin with, don’t let the name Wine-Trax throw you off. This company sells plates, bowls and glassware. Each product is marked to indicate appropriate portion sizes when you serve your food. I have to say oversized portions is a big reason why so many people struggle with weight management.

I’ll share with you my impression of the dishes including what I like and what I don’t. Yes, I did receive the dishes as a gift but I will be honest about my thoughts because that’s what you deserve as a reader.

What I like:

1. The plate, bowl, and glass are simple yet elegant. I would imagine many people would find the dishes to be an attractive and practical addition to their dinnerware. The markings for the portions, including 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, and 1 cup, are easy to see yet work well with the overall design. I personally like products that are visually appealing.

2. The dishes provide a way to get a better sense of portion size no matter what you might use most of the time. Increased awareness matters. Whatever might encourage you to pay a little more attention to how much you eat can make a significant difference.

As I began to use the dishes, I was reminded of just how easy it is to misjudge volume! No matter how good we might be, the size and shape of a container will influence perception about volume. Research has shown that we tend to eat and drink more when we have bigger plates, cups, or containers.

For example, I poured cereal into the Wine-Trax bowl without paying attention to the markers. What my mind assessed to be about 1 cup or a serving turned out to be more than one cup. I was influenced by the size and shape of the bowl. Without the markers I would have overestimated.

It wasn’t a lot more but more is more and if each serving of food throughout the day is more than I need it all adds up. Just remember that in the long run it is not about nitpicking or obsessing about every morsel you eat. What matters most is getting a good sense of your needs.

I’ve found that no matter how good I might think I am with understanding appropriate portions, getting a refresher “course” from time to time ALWAYS helps.

3. The plate and bowl are particularly helpful. I encourage people to carefully limit beverage calories and choose zero calorie beverages most of the time. So I can see the plate and bowl being used more often than the glass.

The bowl is a great choice for enjoying cereal, snacks, or soup. And the plate is divided to provide you with a simple way to follow the dietary guidelines of filling half your plate with low calorie fruits and vegetables. The other half of the plate is divided to provide you with a simple way to limit the size of carbohydrate and protein servings.

4. All three of the products are dishwasher safe. In addition, the measuring bowl and the measuring dinner plate are microwave safe. I’m not sure if the glass is microwave safe.

What’s not so good:

1. If you are accustomed to eating soups, stews, salads, casserole dishes, and the like in which foods are mixed together, the portion control dishes may not be as helpful.

2. The other significant drawback that I can see is the price. If you consider the dishes from the perspective of the value they provide and the elegant design, I would say the price is fair. However, I know there are many people for whom the cost will simply be out of reach.

If paying for essentials for yourself and your family is already a challenge then this product is not for you. On the other hand, if you able to take care of your needs without undue stress, then Wine-Trax Portion Control Dishes might be something that will keep you informed about portion size and help you stay on track with meeting your weight loss goals. The dishes might also provide you with some incentive as well!

Till next time watch those calories and eat healthy food.

[Disclaimer: The product links in this article are for Amazon.com. I am affiliated with Amazon. However, I only promote products that I personally like or that I have researched with the intention of trying myself. If you click through a link I provide and make a purchase I may receive a tiny commission that helps me pay for the time I spend to research, write, edit, and maintain this website. Thank you.]

 

 

 

You may be able to get the full story by clicking here:
Women and Weight Website

Also, check out this great weight loss and health site for more ways to lose weight and stay healthy.

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