13 Best Portion Control Plates in the UK (2022) (2023)

For those of us who need that little extra guidance at dinnertime, afood portion control platecould be just the thing to get our eating habits back on track to being healthy. That’s why here at OriGym we’ve made a list of portion control plate reviews so you can find one that suits your needs.

Before you jump in, have you ever thought about learning more about nutrition and healthy eating? Take a look at our level 4 advanced sports nutrition course or download our latest course prospectus for more information!

What is a Portion Control Plate?

A portion control plate is a simple piece of kitchenware that is designed to educate people on food portion sizes as well as provide easy to follow guidelines on how much of each food type you should be eating during a meal. These plates are usually split into 3 or 4 sections with clear delineations of portion size and food type on each section.

If you’re looking for more information, like how to use a portion control plate or where to buy one, then read down to the bottom of our article where we’ve provided a handy FAQsection.

#1 – j&m Healthy Eating Plate Range

Price: £13.87

Divided plates for portion control are fantastic additions to your kitchen if you want to ensure that you’re eating a healthy and balanced diet. Plus, if you’re wondering how to use a portion control plate, then the range by j&m couldn’t make it any easier for you.

The bright, colourful design on these plates highlights the exact portion size needed per food group for your dinner. The design isn’t just for show, as the plates are made up of names of foods that belong to the food group and can be used as inspiration for your meals.

j&m stock a whole range of meal portion control plates, tailored for various diets and preferred meal sizes. Their standard plate is the Original Healthy Eating Plate. This plate is divided into two quarters and a half: the quarters are designated for protein and carbohydrates, and the other half of the food portion control plate is for vegetables.

However, if you follow a low carb diet or a vegan diet, then j&m have other plates that are designed to suit your needs, either featuring changed portion sizes or an altered list of foods.

For some great vegan snacks, check out our article on the best vegan protein bars here.

As well as featuring a great design, these pretty portion control plates are made of fully food-grade certified BPA-free melamine, meaning they are durable and dishwasher safe. If you are looking for any type of diet plates for portion control, j&m will definitely have a product to suit you.

#2 – The Healthy Portion Plate (Classic)

Price: £8.95

If a colourful and flashy design doesn’t fit the aesthetic of your kitchen then perhaps you would prefer the minimalistic Healthy Portion Plate: this food portion control plate has a very modern design with elegant black text and lines.

With half of the plate designated for vegetables, and the other half of the plate split in two for protein and carbohydrates, the Healthy Portion Plate is perfect for anyone wanting a simple yet effective, everyday diet portion control plate.

The benefits of using a portion control diet plate such as this one is that it removes the uncertainty around your food intake without you having to strictly count calories or weigh your food. If you can fit your food onto the portion sizes provided, and you follow the ratio on the plate, then you know you are eating a balanced meal.

This is another melamine food portion control plate, suitable for dishwashers but not suitable for microwaves.

#3 – Next Portion Control Plates

Price: £12.00 per 2

Made from durable porcelain, this is an adult portion control plate that will help you along your diet while looking beautiful in your cupboard.

This is a super simplistic plate that does the hard work for you, you can rest assured that you, and whoever you’re sharing your meals with are getting the correct portions as this comes in a pack of 2.

Next are renowned in the UK for their quality and affordability when it comes to the basic necessities we all need - like plates!

It is a simple design, it won’t clash with your other dinner plates and thankfully, is easy to wash up as it is dishwasher safe. Plus, if you’re looking to warm up some leftovers you can simply pop this in the microwave as it is also microwave safe.

This is a great option for quality on a budget, especially if you don’t need more that two plates!

#4 – HK Home 3 Section Stainless Steel Portion Control Divider Plate

Price: £5.99

If you find yourself frequently travelling or going camping, or maybe you hold barbeques and have guests over, then this stainless steel portion control plate by HK Home would be perfect for you.

This portion control plate divider separates the plate into thirds rather than a half and two quarters, which is common in most standard portion control plates. What this means is that you will have slightly larger portions of protein and carbohydrates, which is why this plate is specifically advertised for use while camping or hiking. You’ll get more energy in your meal that way which will help you to keep going and recover faster when resting.

As it is stainless steel, the plate is very easy to clean and is shatterproof. This is amazing if you are feeding children who can be clumsy and messy at the best of times!

There is no graphic design or text featured on these portion control dinner plates. However, these plates are not flat, instead containing rigid dividers between each third, ensuring that your portions are easily filled, and your meal remains separated when eating.

All in all, this portion control plate divider will be a great option to take with you while camping but will also be perfectly suitable for use in your home too.

#5 – The Gastric Band Plate

Price: £10.99

The Gastric Band Plate is a great choice of portion control plate for weight loss as it is designed for the eating requirements of people who have undergone gastric band surgery.

What this means is that the plate will be a lot smaller than your average dinner plate. While you may not necessarily have to eat with the same conditions as someone with a gastric band, eating smaller portions and with less frequency will benefit you if you’re trying to lose weight.

These smaller plates for portion control are uniquely divided into three segments for vegetables, protein, and dairy. ‘What about carbohydrates?’, you may be thinking. Well, for people who have recently had gastric band surgery, foods such as pasta and rice can be difficult to eat, so this plate excludes them altogether. However, if you want to include these in your diet then you can easily use the dairy portion of the plate for this.

Another feature that makes The Gastric Band diet portion control plates unique is that the space for vegetables takes up well over half of the plate, meaning that there is less space for the rest of your meal. By including more vegetables in your meal, you will not only be eating healthier foods but also filling yourself up on high volume, low calorie foods.

This food portion control plate features a raised circumference ridge, and the three sections are dipped with a clear divider between each section, making it easy to fill your plate accurately. Also, the plate is made of high quality BPA-free melamine and is dishwasher safe.

So, if you’re looking for meal portion control plates for weight loss, then The Gastric Band Plate will be a great choice for your goals.

#6 – The Diet Kit Perfect Portion Control Divided Diet Plate

Price: £8.69

‘Amazon’s Choice’ for the weight loss plate category, the portion control plate reviews point to this product by The Diet Kit as being one of the best portion control plates for adults in the UK.

Split into the three core food groups of vegetables, protein, and carbohydrates, this plate provides space for the makings of a balanced and varied meal.

On top of this, The Diet Kit adult portion control plate also has a space in the centre for one teaspoon of oil or sauce! While you may not think this is a big deal, providing a reminder that you should limit the amount of additional oil or sauce you have with your meal will definitely be useful if your goal is weight loss.

So often people cook healthy meals and then lather them in high-calorie sauces like mayonnaise or olive oil, sabotaging the effort taken to create a delicious low-calorie meal. Over time, these additions to your food will add up and you’ll find yourself making little to no progress in your weight loss. So, by including a specific location for a small amount of sauce, this plate encourages healthy eating and also allows you to have some freedom with your choice of condiments too.

In terms of looks, this portion control diet plate is flat and made of a dishwasher safe melamine. On the plate are colourful images of healthy foods surrounded by labels listing other healthy options for your meals, giving you ideas for healthy meals to cook in the future. If you're looking for more info and ideas on what you can cook, check out our personal trainer meal plan guide.

#7 – Diabetes Portion Control Plate Range

Price: from £14.99

If you are looking more specifically for portion control plates for diabetics then diabetes.org.uk is a great place for you to look.

They have portion control diet plates for female and male dieters specifically, as well as a bright and enticing one for children, and a non-gendered bowl that will also make a charming addition to your dishware cupboard. The bowl also comes as part of a portion control bowls and plates set either for men or women.

As men have a higher recommended daily calorie intake than women, the portion sizes on the men’s plates are bigger.

The plates can be slightly difficult to read at first due to the cursive handwriting and flowy design, but they include space for a balanced meal, as well as the inclusion of some sauce of your choice, while also encouraging you to eat healthier by reassuring you that you can have ‘unlimited salad’.

Their children’s Magic Plate is one of the smaller plates for portion control and, rather than having a restrictive or boring aesthetic, it has a lovely bright design with magical theme and a wizard that definitely grabs your child’s attention at dinner time.

These plates will still be a solid choice if you are not diabetic as portion control is a great habit to get into for people of all lifestyles. You can get straight into this habit with a portion control plates and bowls set from shop.diabetes.org.uk that also includes a ‘complete weight management system’ guidebook!

#8 – The Range Portion Dinner Plate

Price: £2.99

If you’re looking for portion control dinner plates that are cute and colourful, this option is for you.

This plate encourages you to work on making portion control and a balanced diet a part of your everyday life, without it being an effort.

This plate visually highlights the importance of quantity when it comes to different food groups and with it being so easy to forget what is recommended, it is an easy way to remember.

The top half features veggies and the bottom half is split between the distribution of carbs and protein. Aswell as this, you can remind yourself of the eat well mantra as it is scattered across the rim of the plate making for a fun design alongside the practicality of it all.

It is made from porcelain and is dishwasher safe so for such a small price point, you can buy one for yourself or get one for everybody in the family!

#9 – Precise Portions Control Plate

Price: £16.20

Next up is a bright and attractive addition to your dish collection.

There are no more over eccentric designs or contraptions with this dish, it is among the more simplistic portion control dinner plates while still boasting productivity.

The unique nature of this dish is that you can take your portion control plate on the go and ensure that the midday lunches at work don’t become a space for overeating.

When we are in a rush or having a busy day at work, it can be easy to neglect our bodies with the vital nutrients it needs, but this no longer has to be a problem. You can say goodbye to supplementing your lunch with shakes or unfulfilling snacks and instead, come prepared with your lunch portioned, ensuring you’re still getting all the macronutrients you need.

This is a great option if you love meal prep, it can save you time while not compromising on the quality of your food or the measurements. You can be confident in this as they promise to be BPA free, something that you should be looking out for in all of your divided plates for portion control.

So, whether you’re on the go, prepping for the week ahead or simply putting out a fresh meal in a portioned control manner, this dishwasher and microwave safe plate is going to save the day every time.

#10 – Vegetarian Marianne’s Portion Control Plate

Price: £8.45

If you are a vegetarian then you definitely don’t want to see images or text of animal products on your plate when eating your food, so this portion control plate for vegetarian preferences is a much better option for you.

You still have the core food groups in a 2:1:1 ratio of vegetables to carbohydrates and proteins, but the proteins listed are from plant based sources such as chickpeas, edamame, and mushrooms, listed in bright colours and simple font.

The portion control diet plate is easily deciphered and is colour coded; green for veg, red for protein, and yellow for carbs. With the words being different sizes and facing different directions either horizontally or vertically, the plate looks very stylish and modern.

The portion control plate size will be suitable for both men and women. Marianne’s Plate is made of a durable melamine material that is dishwasher safe.

With plant based diets frequently becoming more common among the fitness scene as well as in everyday life, a portion control plate (vegetarian) like this one would hopefully encourage you to eat less meat as time goes on. By cutting down on animal products, you would be keeping your body healthy and helping the environment without having to fully commit to a vegetarian or vegan diet.

#11 –MyPlate Portion Control Plate

Price: £20.00

Next up on our list of the best diet plates for portion control in the UK is from MyPlate.

The company behind this product is clearly passionate about what they do, they have an extensive description of how their plate can assist you in your dietary habits and introduce a balanced diet overall.

They promise that their portion plates communicate so much more than your average dish, in fact they say that it serves as a visual guide for the recommended way to eat and there are volumes of evidence showing the benefits of eating from each food group.

A good lesson that they point out is that their plate encourages the practice of getting nutrients through whole food sources, rather than supplements or beverages. We know how easy this can be, with work life or family life being so busy that we forget the importance of what we put on our plate and supplement it in other ways, however, this plate is here to help you avoid that.

This plate is for the whole family, it doesn’t have to be for anybody on a diet or with specific needs when it comes to eating; it is in fact a way to train your mind into memorising what should be, and needs to be, on your plate for optimal health.

One more thing about this product is that they have thought about your health and well being from start to finish. The dish is created from safe and sturdy reusable plastic which is also dishwasher-safe, microwave-safe, and free from BPA, phthalates, PVC, and melamine.

Boasting a streamlined shape with no sharp edges or corners, this is sure to be a hit with the whole family.

#12 – Avon Kitchen Magik Portion Control Template

Price: £9.99

If, rather than a plate, you are looking for a portion control plate divider, then the Kitchen Magik Portion Control Template will be just what you need.

Suitable for use with all food groups and most household plate sizes, this divider is split into a half and two quarters – the classic food portion control denominations. While not stated on the product, the half will be suitable for vegetables and the quarters will be suitable for proteins and carbohydrates. Or, if you have your own diet that you follow then feel free to mix it up!

If you're following the keto diet and want something to drink besides water then have a look at our article on the 17 best keto drinks for some great inspiration.

The template comes in one colour option of a clean white and is suitable for use both in the dishwasher and microwave.

This product is supported by Avon and Weight Watchers, so if you are after a portion control plate for weight loss without being limited to just one plate then you will be pleased with what the Kitchen Magik template provides!

#13 – Meal Measure Portion Control Plate

Price: £5.95

Another great choice of portion control plate divider comes in the form of this product by Meal Measure.

Unlike the previous item listed, this divider contains four compartments. You have three equally sized segments for starch, fruits, and vegetables, and then you have a larger space for protein.

If you want more protein in your diet but also have a bit of a sweet tooth, check outOriGym's list of the best protein cookies of 2020 to finally curb those cravings.

This will therefore be a good design for anyone who wants to include more protein in their diet. However, due to the product having four divisions, it can also be more useful for any number of people. As you have more food groups that you can include on your plate compared to products that only offer three divisions, the Meal Measure tool will be suitable for people following any type of diet!

What is useful about the design of this product is that the segments are measured so that when filled they can hold a cup of food. Halfway up the segments you’ll find a line which you can use to measure out half a cup portion. This is a useful design choice if you want to control your portion control plate size without the limitation of using only one plate specifically.

The Meal Measure tool comes in colour options of blue, red, or yellow, and is dishwasher safe so will be very easy to clean!

If you also want portable portion control then take a look at our best meal prep containers blog post for some on-the-go meals.

FAQs

Where to buy portion control plates

Whilst portion control plates and bowls may seem like more of a niche household item, the reality is that they’re actually quite sought after, meaning they’re sold in more places than you’d originally think. Many supermarkets stock their own versions of diet portion control plates - although we recommend checking your local stores online just to be sure they have them!

If all else fails, then Amazon will always be your best bet to buy portion control plates, and as a bonus you can read through the portion control plate reviews to see what verified customers think about the product.

How to use a portion control plate

Due to the simplicity of many of the designs, using portion control bowls and plates is easy enough. Most will be divided into sections - usually 3 or 4 - and then labelled as to what should go in each section. When you’re plating up your dinner, you place the different types of food in the corresponding sections: so if you’re having chicken, rice, and salad, then the salad would go in the large section, the chicken would go in the protein section, and the rice in the carbohydrate section.

The purpose of this is to provide an outline of how much of each food group you should be having in order to maintain a healthy diet, so make sure you don’t exceed the guidelines on the portion control diet plate.

How to choose a portion control plate

Choosing the right portion control dinner plates is important to ensure you’re meeting your goals or following your diet properly. That means there are a few things you should consider before purchasing diet plates for portion control, including:

• Your food/diet goals - whether you’re diabetic, on a specific diet such as keto or paleo, looking to lose weight, or just wanting to ensure you have a healthy diet, there will be different plates that will suit each need better than the other.
• Vegetarian or vegan diets - the majority of these plates feature images or writing that depict meat, dairy, or animal products, so be sure to look out for a specific portion control plate for vegetarian or vegan diets.
• Portion control plate size - this is important, as not only is it a personal preference but it will also make a difference as to how much you will be eating. If you want small dinner plates for portion control then make sure you check the sizes before buying!
• Design - obviously this is entirely down to personal preference, but it is still an important factor! Especially considering there are quite a few different types of plate, including a portion control plate divider or divided plates for portion control, with each type appealing more or less to different people!

Do I need to use a portion control plate?

Ultimately, the need to use a portion control plate depends entirely on the individual, and usually it is more of a desire to use them than an actual need. That being said, portion control bowls and plates are a relatively affordable and simple way to make sure you’re eating healthily, and are a valuable tool in losing weight or aiding health conditions.

If you’re struggling to decide whether to invest in this simple piece of kit, think about your regular eating habits, and whether you’re regularly following habits such as these when you eat:

• Do you regularly feel like you have to finish your whole meal even if you’re already full?
• Do you often go back for more food, having seconds or even thirds?
• Do you feel sick after a meal because you’ve eaten too much?
• Are you often unsure of portion sizes leading to eating too much?

If any of these questions are ringing alarm bells in your head then using a portion control plate can definitely help.

Before you go!

Well, we’ve definitely been inspired to check our portion sizing and increase our healthy eating! Portion control plates are an invaluable addition to any kitchen, and at an affordable price you can’t go wrong.

Is healthy eating and nutrition your cup of tea? Then maybe you’d make a great personal trainer or nutrition expert! If this sounds like you, then have a look at our REPs accredited level 4 qualification in advanced sports nutrition, or download our free course prospectus for more information.