Portion control is more than just an important part of meal planning, it’s also essential to losing weight. In order to lose weight you must create a calorie deficit, meaning that you must burn more calories than you consume. Learning what is the correct amount or knowing how much to consume is easier when food has a label that indicates serving sizes, and has nutrition information. But what can you do to measure out the proper portions when you don’t have a label? Here are some easy tricks you can use to help you achieve your weight loss goals without any labels.

Estimate- Serving sizes can be eye-balled using common household items like a deck of playing cards (3 oz of meat, 1 serving), or a tennis ball (1 cup). Measure out one cup of dry ingredients like flour, and find something around the same size so you can estimate your portions on-the-go. Try a to-go coffee cup lid, a cup holder or egg carton.