We hear it over and over: portion control, portion control, portion control if you want to lose weight. And it's true: As a general rule, the more food on your plate, the more calories. It's a sensible guideline, and portion control is important. But recent research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition points to a catch: Larger portions aren't always higher in calories, and they may actually help you feel full longer.

The Lowdown on Volumetrics

This area of research is based on the energy density of food and dubbed "volumetrics." It is detailed in The Volumetrics Weight-Control Plan, coauthored by Barbara Rolls, PhD, a scientist at Penn State University. Put simply, the energy density of a certain food is the number of calories (energy) per gram that the food contains. Examples of low-energy dense foods include fruits and vegetables — gram for gram, these foods contain fewer calories than a piece of cake of equal weight because of the amounts of water and fiber in each.

Why It Can Work

Part of the benefit is that foods that have more water (and fiber) in them may help you to feel more satisfied. While strict portion control may sometimes work in the short term, it is rarely sustainable, because it may leave you feeling deprived. Satiety is essential in helping to control calories but also in ensuring that you stick to a healthy eating pattern long-term.

Low-energy dense foods include fruits, vegetables, soups, cooked grains, low-fat milk, lean meat, poultry, fish, and legumes (beans, lentils, peas). Combination foods, such as soups, stews, and casseroles, can also do the trick. Fortunately, many of these low-energy dense foods also contain a fair amount of fiber. Fiber naturally adds "bulk" to foods by absorbing liquid while in the stomach, which may increase the feeling of satiety. Because foods high in fat and calories typically fall into the high-energy dense category, choosing primarily low-energy dense foods means that you may be able to eat less fat and fewer calories — but plenty of volume.

Sound simple and easy? That’s because it is! Here are six no-nonsense ways to use volumetrics in your life.

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• Stuff Your Sammys

  Pile sandwiches high with vegetables-sprouts, shredded carrots, lettuce leaves, and tomato, cucumber, and pepper slices. <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/roasted-garlic-hummus-and-goat-cheese-sandwiches/40bfea48-d780-487c-a5a2-04cefd266b2c?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the Roasted Garlic Hummus And Goat Cheese Sandwiches recipe</a>

• Pack Your Salad With More Greens

  Enjoy large portions of greens in your salad, topped with small portions of lean meat, poultry, or fish. Just go easy on the dressing and choose a low-fat or low-calorie option. <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/healthified-tangy-spinach-and-apple-salad/0d10c6fa-1a19-40e3-b62b-0f4808641716?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the Healthified Tangy Spinach And Apple Salad recipe</a>

• Get Your Soup On

  Choose a large bowl of broth-based soup loaded with vegetables and beans, instead of a sandwich. <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/easy-italian-white-bean-soup/51d28474-f6a6-4587-9aaf-a3927a692eb3?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the Easy Italian White Bean Soup recipe</a>

• Choose Hydrating Snacks

  Swap low-water snacks such as chips or pretzels for cucumber, carrot, and celery sticks dipped into hummus. <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/roasted-vegetables-with-roasted-pepper-hummus/b862b6e3-268e-49a5-8710-e17c968be2c4?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the Roasted Vegetables With Roasted-Pepper Hummus recipe</a>

• Makeover Your Lasagna

  Substitute spinach and eggplant for traditional ingredients in casseroles and lasagna. <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/healthified-creamy-ricotta-artichoke-lasagna/1e6e6214-a8c2-45cd-a16c-997cd35e1fb3?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the Healthified Creamy Ricotta Artichoke Lasagna recipe</a>

• Reinvent Dessert

  Opt for a glass of skim milk and some sliced fruit with a dollop of low-fat whipped topping for dessert. <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/mixed-berries-with-vanilla-sauce/9207f473-196e-4160-a66c-179fd67db00b?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the Mixed Berries With Vanilla Sauce recipe</a>

Just remember… With volumetric eating, there are no forbidden foods. You can still occasionally enjoy some high-energy dense items, such as potato chips or chocolate — but low-energy dense foods should be the dominant choices. If you're full and satisfied after a hearty, low-energy dense meal, indulge in a small portion of dessert.