Portion: A Share, and What Ends Up on the Plate
A portion is a part of a whole, especially an amount of food for one person. Portion size has become a public health term.
A portion is a part of something larger, and particularly the amount of food served to one person. Nutrition draws a line that labels often blur: a *portion* is what you actually eat, while a *serving* is a standard measure used on packaging. The two can differ considerably, which is why calorie labels sometimes surprise people.
- A part of a whole. *A portion of the fee.*
- An amount of food for one person. *A generous portion.*
- To divide into parts. *Portion out the rice.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | portion | A small portion. |
| Plural | portions | Two portions. |
| Verb | portion | Portion the stew. |
| Compound | portion size | Portion sizes have grown. |
| Related | proportion | In proportion. |
How it is used in a sentence
- A large portion of the budget went on staff.Part of a whole.
- The restaurant is known for generous portions.Food.
- Portion control is easier with smaller plates.A common recommendation.
Portion, serving and helping
- Portion — the amount served or eaten
- Serving — the standard measure used on labels
- Helping — an informal word for what you take
- Ration — a fixed allowance, often in scarcity
- Proportion — a part considered relative to the whole
From Latin *portionem*, a share, related to *pars*, part. The same root gives *proportion*, *apportion* and *portly*, which once meant of good proportion.
Portion or serving?
A serving is a standard measure defined by a label or guideline. A portion is what actually goes on the plate.
Portion or proportion?
A portion is an amount. A proportion is a relationship between amounts, and is often expressed as a fraction.