How Much Beef Mince Is One Portion

Expert reviewer, Mr Paul McArdle, Registered Dietitian
Next review due July 2023

A healthy, balanced diet means eating the right types of food, and also making sure you're getting the right amounts. Eating too much or too little of any of the major food groups can be bad for your health.

Here we recommend portion sizes for the key food groups that will meet an average person's nutritional and energy requirements. Different people need different amounts, depending on how old you are, whether you're male or female, and how active you are. If you're trying to lose weight, you'll need to be particularly careful about portion control. You may need to eat smaller or fewer portions than we suggest here – ask your GP or a dietitian if you're unsure.

Recommended portion size for starchy foods

Starchy foods are our most important source of energy. It's recommended that you include healthy, wholegrain starchy foods at every meal – they should make up just over a third of your diet.

Here are some suggested amounts that you might aim for at each meal, based on an average adult looking to maintain their weight. Opt for wholegrain, less-processed versions when you can, with less added fat, salt or sugar. This will help you to make sure you get enough fibre, and feel fuller for longer.

• 40g (1.4 oz) of cereal (about 6 tablespoons)
• Two slices of bread/toast
• One bread roll or bagel
• One pitta bread
• Five to six (egg-sized) new potatoes
• 75g (2.6 oz) of uncooked rice or pasta (about 180g (6.3oz) when cooked)
• One medium baked potato (with skin)

Unsure what some of these look like?

It can be difficult to know how much you should be having, so here are some photographs that show you what some of these suggested amounts look like.

This is what 40g of bran flakes looks like in a cereal bowl. You'll see it's a bit smaller than what's often advertised on the front of cereal boxes!

How much pasta per person? Pasta can be very tricky to gauge, especially spaghetti. 75g is the recommended serving of dry pasta – but what does that look like? Admittedly it can seem like a small amount, but appearances can be deceiving.

When it's cooked (see below), you can see there's certainly enough to fill a plate for a satisfying meal.

How much rice per person is another one that's tricky to gauge. But the same goes for rice as it does for pasta – an uncooked serving of 75g can seem small but it expands in size once cooked.

It's tempting to pick the biggest baked potato at the supermarket, but a medium-sized baked potato is correct. Not too small, not too big.

You can spread the starchy food you eat over the course of a day, as shown in the examples below.

Day one

Breakfast

• 40g(1.4oz)of low-sugar cereal

Lunch

• Two slices of wholegrain bread for a sandwich

Dinner

• Five or six small boiled potatoes

Day two

Breakfast

• Two slices of wholegrain toast

Lunch

• One medium baked potato

Dinner

• Pasta (75g or 2.6oz uncooked)

Day three

Breakfast

• 40g (1.4oz) porridge

Lunch

• One large pitta bread

Dinner

• Rice (75g or 2.6oz uncooked)

You can adjust these amounts to suit your needs. If you're trying to lose weight, the amount you have at each meal will need to be smaller. If you're very active, you may need larger portions than this. And if you decide to include most of your day's quota of starchy foods in one meal, just cut down throughout the rest of the day.

Meat, fish, beans, eggs and other non-dairy proteins

Proteins are important for your body because they're involved in growth and repair. As well as meat and fish, proteins can come from sources like beans and pulses. Include moderate amounts of protein in your diet – two or three portions throughout the day should be enough to give you what you need.

Here's what counts as a portion.

• 60–90g (2.1–3.2oz) of cooked meat (about the size of a deck of cards)
• 140g (4.9oz) of cooked fish (the size of the palm of your hand)
• Two medium-sized eggs
• A small (200g or 7.1oz) tin of baked beans
• Four tablespoons of lentils
• 100g tofu, soya or other meat alternative
• One tablespoon of peanut butter
• A handful of nuts

When it comes to foods like meat and fish, these weigh less when they're cooked because they lose water. So, a raw steak that weighs 175g is the equivalent of 130g when cooked.

What does this look like?

This is a roasted chicken breast about the same size as a pack of playing cards.

It can be difficult to judge exactly what a 'handful' is – here's what a mix of almonds and unsalted cashews looks like.

Here are some examples of how you might incorporate protein into your diet.

Day one

Lunch

• A portion of baked beans on your baked potato

Dinner

• Chicken or lentil-based curry

Day two

Breakfast

• Two scrambled eggs

Lunch

• Chicken slices in your sandwich

Day three

Lunch

• Lentil-based soup

Dinner

• Salmon

Try to have two portions of fish a week, one of which should be oily fish.

If you eat a lot of red and processed meat, try to limit the amount to 70g (2.5oz) per day. If you know your portion sizes tend to be larger than this, you may find it easier to cut down by making sure you only eat red meat two or three times a week. Red meats include beef, pork, and lamb; processed meats include bacon and burgers. These can be high in saturated fat and salt, which can increase your risk of heart disease. Eating high amounts of red and processed meats can also increase your risk of bowel cancer.

Dairy and dairy-free alternatives

You also need to include some dairy foods in your diet (or fortified equivalents if you don't eat dairy). These foods are an excellent source of calcium, which you need for healthy bones and teeth, as well as being another good source of protein. Have moderate amounts of dairy. Two or three portions a day based on the amounts below should be enough.

Here's what counts as a portion.

• A 200ml (7floz) glass of milk (or fortified soya, rice or oat milk)
• A carton of yoghurt or fortified soya yoghurt (125ml or 4.4floz)
• 30g (1.1oz) of hard cheese (about the size of a matchbox)

What does this look like?

If you eat cheese and crackers, it can be very easy to have much more than you realise. Here's what a matchbox-sized portion of cheese looks like.

Be mindful about what size glass you choose. For example, if you choose a pint glass it can be tempting to fill it up. This is what 200ml of milk looks like.

If you pour yoghurt from a large tub, this is about the right amount that you're aiming for (125ml).

Day one

Breakfast

• Milk on cereal

Lunch

• Low-fat cheese on a baked potato

Day two

Breakfast

• Milk added to porridge

Dinner

• Yoghurt with curry

Day three

Breakfast

• Yoghurt-based smoothie

Dinner

• Grated cheese added to a pasta dish

Remember that the milk on your cereal and in your tea all counts. Go for lower-fat options when you can, such as low-fat cheese or yoghurts, and skimmed or semi-skimmed milk. Choose non-dairy alternative products that are fortified with calcium and unsweetened.

Fruit and vegetables

Aim to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. The amount of fruit and veg you eat should make up just over a third of your diet.

One portion is 80g (2.8oz) of any fresh fruit or vegetable, 30g (1.1oz) of dried fruit or 150ml (5.3floz) of fruit juice or smoothie. Fruit juices and smoothies only count as a maximum of one portion a day, even if they contain more than one type of fruit or vegetable.

Here are some examples of what a portion looks like.

• One medium fruit, such as an apple, orange, pear or banana.
• Two small fruits, such as kiwis, satsumas or plums.
• One large slice of a larger fruit, such as pineapple, or two slices of mango.
• A handful of grapes or berries.
• Three heaped tablespoons of peas, sweetcorn or carrots.
• A dessert bowl of salad.
• 150ml (5.3floz) of fruit juice or smoothie.
• 30g (1.1oz) of dried fruits.
• Three heaped tablespoons of beans or lentils (only counts as a maximum of one per day).

What does this look like?

A handful of grapes makes a good snack.

This is what 150ml of fruit juice looks like in a glass. Remember, fruit juice or smoothie can only count as one of your five-a-day.

With dried fruit, it's a good idea to use a handful as your guide rather than eating straight out of a packet. That way you know you're eating the right amount.

Mixed veg is great for adding colour to your meal. This is three heaped tablespoons of mixed veg – it counts as one portion.

This is what two slices of pineapple looks like when diced.

Day one

Breakfast

• Berries or banana on your cereal

Lunch

• Salad leaves in a sandwich
  An apple

Dinner

• A tomato-based pasta sauce, with side salad

Day two

Breakfast

• Half a grapefruit with breakfast

Lunch

• Baked beans with baked potato
  Two satsumas

Dinner

• Two portions of vegetables

Day three

Breakfast

• Glass of orange juice

Lunch

• Carrot, cucumber and pepper in a wrap
  A handful of dried fruit

Dinner

• Spinach added to curry
  Strawberries with yoghurt for dessert

Oils and spreads

We need some fat in our diets, but this should mainly come from unsaturated fats. These include sunflower, rapeseed and olive oils, and spreads made from these oils. Aim to have oils or lower-fat spreads based on these oils in place of saturated fats when you can. You still only need limited amounts of these in your diet.

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Source: https://www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/nutrition-diet/portion-size

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