Review: Flavor Magic Portion Control Sheets

Beat portion distortion and you just may lose more weight. A reader comment on a recent post about portion control led me to review Flavor Magic Portion Control Sheets, made in Canada by Real Chef.

Here’s the comment from reader Alana:

A friend of mine is suggesting I use Flavor Magic Portion Control Sheets, which she describes as basically a portioning guide that also seasons the food. Kind of like the “palm of hand” rule, but more accurate. Does anyone have input on this one? She claims it is working for her with home cooking. I want to give it a shot but it looks like it is only available online.

I have to admit being hesitant to try magic sheets that flavored my food for me. However, Flavor Magic responded quickly to my request for a sample to review, so here I am.

First, I want to clear up whether Flavor Magic Portion Control Sheets are only available online. For now, yes, that’s the case. According to the Flavor Magic website, retailers will begin stocking the product in 2009. For now, you may order online at portioncontrol.net.

Flavor Magic Portion Control Sheets are made for use with raw meat or fish. They contain a variety of all natural dry marinades on pre-measured transfer sheets.

Why Flavor Magic sheets are healthy:
• They’re developed by registered dietitians and follow the American Dietetic Association’s protein portion size guidelines (3-5 oz)

• They help home cooks beat the portion distortion prevalent since restaurants started serving over-sized portions

• They’re a low-calorie, lower sodium and fat-free seasoning (Added bonus: Certified Kosher)

But how do these magic sheets taste?

I’m picky about my spices. I keep a stock of almost any spice you can imagine. I’m not a Mrs. Dash type person. I guess you could say I approached the item with a snobby spice attitude. However, I’m happy to report that the flavor sheets added a wonderful restaurant-quality flair to my sauteed chicken. I tried Riviera Tomato & Basil and Dijon Honey Mustard. There was no artificial taste and the meat looked prettier than usual! Note: Flavor Magic contains no added MSG, preservatives or anything artificial. If you’re sensitive to soy or wheat, avoid the Garlic Citrus Teriyaki flavor. Another flavor you may want to try is Zesty Cajun Creole.

Ease of use:
The sheets are easy to use because they’re pre-cut for you. No measuring is required. I wrapped the sheets around some servings of chicken breasts and allowed them to marinate in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. After that, I discarded the sheets before cooking the chicken. If you don’t want to pre-marinate, the sheets are oven-proof up to 400 degrees and microwave safe. The plastic used is FDA approved for food, but I still don’t like the idea of nuking the sheets. The chicken was nicely seasoned, but didn’t look quite as full of spice as the food photos on the Flavor Magic website.

Do I recommend?

For guidance in portion control, these sheets can be helpful. You simply cut or shape the meat to the size of the sheets. They may very well keep you from overeating. While the sheets did a great job of flavoring food, I wouldn’t buy them simply for that reason. At around 60 cents per serving, the sheets aren’t as cost-effective as dried spices from your cabinet.

If you’re looking for more guidance with portion control, which is very important for weight loss, then Flavor Magic is really worth a try. It seems to be a high-quality product, not a passing fad.

(Images courtesy Flavor Magic.)