a specific amount of food, defined by common measurements such as cups, ounces or pieces
a standard unit of measure of food, useful in planning meals
a suggested portion for a food
the portion of food used as a reference on the nutrition label of a product
A standardized amount of a food, such as a cup or an ounce, used in providing dietary guidance or in making comparisons among similar foods.
Serving size, shown on a Nutrition Facts Panel (food label), is the amount of food that people typically eat. The information on a food label (such as calcium, vitamins, and fat) is for one serving. Serving sizes can be shown in different ways for different foods - "slices" of cheese or "ounces" of juice, for example.
The serving size of a food product is a confusing term, as it is found both on the Food Pyramid and on Nutrition Labels and has two related but differing meanings. The USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion sets the standards for these meanings in the United States.
