System and apparatus for assisting a user in portion control while eating

A system of place-setting components used to facilitate serving and eating healthy food portions, the place-setting system comprising:

• a nestable set of two or more serving spoons, wherein each of the serving spoons in the set includes—
• a bowl-shaped cup,
• wherein an upper rim of the cup presents a closed curve that lies in a reference plane,
• a handle with distal and proximal ends, the handle comprising:
• a first segment, generally arcuate in shape, extending distally from the proximal end of the handle, with a first portion of a proximal-most section of the first segment being generally parallel with the reference plane, and a second portion of a distal-most section of the first segment extending upward and presenting a longitudinal centerline forming a first angle with a portion of the reference plane that lies distally with respect to the longitudinal centerline,
• wherein the first angle is between about 30 degrees to about 150 degrees,
• a second segment connected to the first segment via a first arcuate connecting segment, with the second segment extending downward from the first arcuate connecting segment and presenting a longitudinal centerline forming a second angle with a portion of the reference plane that lies distally with respect to the longitudinal centerline,
• wherein the second angle is between about 15 degrees to about 165 degrees,
• wherein the first segment, the second segment, and the first arcuate connecting segment provide for the serving spoon to be engaged in a first position with a serving bowl, with the first position being such that the upper rim of the serving spoon faces in a generally upward direction and further such that the bowl-shaped cup is operable to maintain a food component while being engaged in the first position with the serving bowl,
• a third segment connected to the second segment via a second arcuate connecting segment, with the third segment extending generally upward and presenting a longitudinal centerline forming a third angle with a portion of the reference plane that lies distally with respect to the longitudinal centerline,
• wherein the third angle is between about 30 degrees to about 150 degrees,
• wherein the second segment, the third segment, and the second arcuate connecting segment provide for the serving spoon to be engaged in a second position with the serving bowl, with the second position being such that the upper rim of the serving spoon faces in a generally downward direction and further such that the bowl-shaped cup is operable to be emptied of any food component while being engaged in the second position with the serving bowl,
• a fourth segment connected to the third segment via a third arcuate connecting segment, with the fourth segment extending generally distally and being generally parallel with the reference plane.

A system of place-setting components used to facilitate serving and eating healthy food portions, the place-setting system comprising:

• a nestable set of two or more serving spoons, wherein each of the serving spoons in the set includes—
• a bowl-shaped cup,
• wherein an upper rim of the cup presents a closed curve that lies in a reference plane,
• a handle with distal and proximal ends, the handle comprising:
• a first segment, generally arcuate in shape, extending distally from the distal end of the handle, with a first portion of a distal-most section of the first segment being generally parallel with the reference plane, and a second portion of a distal-most section of the first segment extending upward,
• a second segment connected to the first segment via a first arcuate connecting segment, with the second segment extending downward from the first arcuate connecting segment,
• wherein the first segment, the second segment, and the first arcuate connecting segment provide for the serving spoon to be engaged in a first position with a serving bowl, with the first position being such that the upper rim of the serving spoon faces in a generally upward direction and further such that the bowl-shaped cup is operable to maintain a food component while being engaged in the first position with the serving bowl,
• a third segment connected to the second segment via a second arcuate connecting segment, with the third segment extending generally upward,
• wherein the second segment, the third segment, and the second arcuate connecting segment provide for the serving spoon to be engaged in a second position with the serving bowl, with the second position being such that the upper rim of the serving spoon faces in a generally downward direction and further such that the bowl-shaped cup is operable to be emptied of any food component while being engaged in the second position with the serving bowl,
• a fourth segment connected to the third segment via a third arcuate connecting segment, with the fourth segment extending generally distally and being generally parallel with the reference plane,
• a bottom-facing flat surface on a lower portion of the bowl-shaped cup,
• wherein the bottom facing flat surface, the third segment, the third arcuate connecting segment, and the fourth segment provide for the serving spoon to be engaged in a third position with a base surface, with the third position being such that the upper rim of the serving spoon faces in a generally upward direction and further such that the bowl-shaped cup is operable to maintain a food component while being engaged in the third position with the base surface.