How to Use Portion Control Containers for Weight Loss
This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions shared are my own. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Click to view our full disclosure.
All content is created by humans – not AI.
Color coded portion control containers are a great way to lose weight and learn how much to eat! Instead of restricting yourself, these containers allow you to eat everything as long as it fits into a container! We’ll outline how to use the containers to lose weight.
In order to lose weight, a lot of the time it just means cutting back on how much we eat. As a culture, our portions are usually huge, and processed foods pack a heavy caloric punch.
A Few Diet Tweaks You Can Do Are:
- Eat smaller meals
- Choose low calorie options
- Eat fewer meals
- Try intermittent fasting
- Keep a food journal
- Cut out processed foods & eat clean
- Count calories or macros
- Use color coded portion control containers
We love the color coded portion containers because it’s so simple and really works! Instead of tracking every macro or calorie you eat, you just know how many of each container to eat. Since each container is a macronutrient (protein, carbohydrate, or healthy fat) you’re going to see results and be eating similar to a fitness competitor too! It’s a win-win.
How to Use Portion Control Containers
Each container has a macronutrient tied to it, and soon you’ll start to remember each as a color.
- Purple: fruit
- Green: vegetables
- Red: protein
- Orange: seeds and oils
- Yellow: carbs
- Blue: healthy fats and cheese
Each container is a specific size and has a list of foods that are allowed in it. You’ll see in the picture below a food list for each color coded portion control container. The foods at the top are the best to consume, and the ones at the bottom are the least beneficial to your health. Any of these foods can be eaten though!
Portion Control Containers Guide
Now that you’ve seen the containers, you also have to know how many of each one to eat per day. There is a formula to help you know how much to eat based on your current weight and goals.
Step 1: Find Your Calorie Level
This is the only time you need to know calories.
Step 2: Find Your Plan Based on Your Calorie Level
This is how many of each container you’ll want to eat per day.
Step 3: Follow Those Amounts – Simple!!
You can customize the plan using the food list above to make it work with your dietary needs and preferences! It’s so easy to use!
If you have a recipe, you can either guess at how many containers it would be or the Fixate Cookbook includes 101 recipes by container amounts. If I’m not using my cookbook, I’ll look at the ingredients and decide. For example, chili with meat, tomato and beans would be a red, green and yellow.
You can order Fixate + the Portion Control Containers Here
Why we Love Color Coded Portion Control Containers
They keep healthy eating simple – if it fits in the container, you can eat it.
You can finally stop tracking your calories and weighing your food. Plus, they are going to help you eat the right types of food each day and skip the boxed, processed foods! The simple approach really works long-term too because you’ll start to learn what a proper portion looks like without the containers.
With the 21 Day Fix Portion Control Containers, you can swap 2 yellow containers for a treat up to 3x a week too! So you could skip your yellows one day for a glass of wine or a chocolate chip cookie if you wanted!
Get Your Portion Fix Containers
Beachbody’s 21 Day Fix made the portion control containers super popular! There have been a lot of knock-offs since, but we really prefer the original Beachbody containers either through Beachbody or Amazon.
We prefer their brand because the containers are BPA-free, seal easily and can go in the dishwasher and microwave! They also aren’t flimsy and are very durable. I’ve had one set for over 4 years now.
Whether you decide to order from Beachbody or Amazon, you’ll receive:
- 7 color coded portion control containers
- Labels for each container
- Shaker Cup for smoothies or water
- Portion Fix Eating Guide (includes the formula above, recipes and more!)
Order Your Portion Control Containers on Beachbody or on Amazon Here
You can also add on the 21 Day Fix workouts as a bundle on Amazon or through Beachbody. These workouts were originally paired with the containers, and they work great for beginners and intermediate exercisers!
These containers can make your weight loss easier!
What does the spoon mean at the bottom of the chart?
It’s a teaspoon. :)
Hello Kim and Kalee,
I read about the number of containers that would count for chili, but how do you measure the right amount to eat when taking it from the pot it was cooked in? Thank you.
It can be tough with the recipes to figure out your containers – We typically will do a serving of the recipe and then count it as those containers. For example, a serving of chili is about a cup. So that’s what we’d dish out of the pot. Does that make sense?
Why is it that on the green list it says not iceburg lettuce?
Iceberg lettuce doesn’t contain the same nutrients darker, leafy greens contain :)
Can you still eat it?
Yes, but I’d consider it a low-quality green versus being the best. It won’t hurt you to eat it though! :) It’s low carb and super low calorie.
You said “about a cup is usually considered a serving of chili”. I know where to find serving sizes in boxes, which we’re trying to move away from… can you refer me to a chart for serving sizes for common foods?
Hey Ginger!
We don’t have a chart for common foods like chili; however, Autumn does have a cookbook called FIXATE with her portions outlined in it that you might like.
Hi what does the spoon represent a portion of?
It’s mostly oils or nut butters. There is a photo above if you’re able to see it that lists each item. If you need a written list versus the infographic just let us know.
I know fitness is important, too, but how would you suggest calculating your containers when you can’t do the workout [the calorie burn in the equation]….
I would stick to the same amount of containers and aim for the highest foods on Autumn’s Food list. For example, I’d choose a sweet potato over a waffle for my yellow. This will help you get in lower calorie, higher nutrition options when you’re not working out.