It’s every girl’s worst nightmare. No, not the one where you’re stuck in a bathroom with a naked Charlie Sheen. This one finds us huffing, puffing and seriously sucking in just to zip up our “fat” jeans. Not good!

When the battle of the bulge starts to get the best of us, consider a massive meal makeover! Dr. Lisa Young, NYU nutrition professor, lives by the notion “amounts count.” With restaurants often dishing out over four times the normal serving size, it’s easy to lose sight of what a normal portion should be.

One of the biggest keys to keeping your tummy trim is portion control. Here are a few of Dr. Young’s simple rules to keep in mind:

#1: Protein portions should be the size of a deck of cards
#2: Veggies should fill about half your plate
#3: Extras should be frozen for later

To make portioning even easier, try out this super simple meal-for-one that is, amazingly, under 400 calories! (Double it for a romantic dinner with that special someone. Triple if you’re a little kinky and have two special someones.)

Skinny FFF Shrimp Pasta:

6 uncooked peeled shrimp
5 cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup of chopped broccoli
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 ounces whole wheat penne pasta
2 t. olive oil
1 Tsp. fresh basil
Salt and Pepper

Boil pasta in salted water. Heat oil, garlic, broccoli and shrimp in a non-stick pan on medium high for 5 – 8 minutes (until shrimp are pink). Add in tomatoes and season to taste. Mix shrimp combination with the strained pasta. Serve with fresh basil on top.

Servings: 1; Calories: 392

For more low-cal recipes, check out Cooking Light’s under-250-calorie main courses. Bon appetite!

xx, The FabFitFun Team