Chronic Disease Care Management and Education

Serving Sizes

You can learn to recognize one serving of carbohydrate by using a chart, book or other resource. Below is an example of a serving size chart. Aim for 3-4 carbohydrate servings per meal or 1-2 servings per snack. 

Carbohydrates Serving Size 
Bread, standard slice 1 slice
Rice or Pasta 1/3 cup
Pinto Beans 1/2 cup
Corn or Peas 1/2 cup
Potato 1/2 cup
Peaches 1/2 cup
Cantalope, cubed 1 cup
Milk, lowfat 1 cup
Jelly 1 tablespoon


REMEMBER: A healthy meal includes a controlled amount of carbohydrates, as well as a variety of proteins, heart healthy fats and non-starchy vegetables.

Plan Your Meal

To use serving sizes to manage your carbohydrate intake, take note of how many servings of carbohydrates you eat with each meal. Try to eat 3-4 servings of carbohydrate food per meal and 1-2 servings per snack.

Below is an example of a meal that includes 3 servings of carbohydrate:

Plate of food with serving sizes

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