May 10, 2011

Trying to lose weight? Diabetic and confused about how much to eat? Learn about the Precise Portions System, a porcelain dinnerware system with my guest, Ann-Marie Stephens, who co-founded this innovative product that helps you figure out how much to eat and when. Ann Marie will tell you about: How the idea for Precise Portions was born. How her family includes a number of people with diabetes. How the design of these plates helps you figure out exactly what to eat. How it's unlike other divided plates How it eliminates that feeling of deprivation or isolation that comes from being the lone family member eating off a clinical (or even childish) looking “traditional portion control plate.” How the FOCUS Precise Portions plate can includes dietary guidelines printed on the plate itself. Ann-Marie Stephens and Ed are chemical engineers with backgrounds in product development for large national companies such as Procter & Gamble, Frito-Lay and Avon. They decided to create a website that would contain dietary and nutritional information in addition to products for diabetics, everything from shoes and cookware to meters and portion-controlled dinnerware. The couple founded Henrico County-based Blue Horizon Development in 2004 and spent three years conducting research before launching the e-commerce site TypeFreeDiabetes.com in 2007. In 2010, the couple also launched PrecisePortions.com, a site for the sale of their porcelain dinnerware system for weight management. The stylish design the couple used for their plates, bowls and glasses is easy to understand because of its subtle visual cues for portioning. The weight management system is dietitian-designed to ensure it meets dietary guidelines from the American Dietetic Association.