Yesterday evening was a bit chaotic: we had a guest for dinner, and immediately after eating we were off to a function at AC’s school. Everyone had eaten, and all were preparing to leave the dining room… except for Dear Husband (DH), who had just re-seated himself with seconds.
I did a double-take. That plate was full — edge to edge — with all food groups, for the second time.
I’ve decided I need to surreptitiously forward him this:
A study at Rutgers University supports earlier research that people today eat bigger servings than they did 20 years ago.
“People aren’t realizing how much they are eating,” said Jaime Schwartz, a registered dietitian and one of the authors of the study. “The larger portion size they’re eating — even if it’s a healthy food — is still more calories.”
I’ve noticed this everywhere, though; it’s not just DH in our dining room. I can’t remember, for example, the last time I didn’t need to request a box for my uneaten portion at a restaurant… which I then bring home and dine on for at least two more meals.
Is anybody else noticing a problem with this?
Considering how much it costs to eat out at places compared to the quality of food, I don’t mind having to take some home. If giving less food was going to also allow me to pay less, then I’ll go for it.
Of course, when I think I have had a great meal, then I don’t care as much what it had cost. Sadly, our chain restaurants are by no means up to my standards on average.
After eating MRE’s after Katrina.. I’ll take any portions of food now..Especially those I can save for later… 🙂
YES, if you’ve ever lived abroad, as I know you have, it’s something foreigners bring up all the time. My in-laws (from England) were so overwhelmed the first time we brought them out to eat here that they couldn’t bring themselves to eat anything. It’s ridiculous, it causes us all to overeat, it’s wasteful and unnecessary. Portion control is not in the restaurant vernacular in the US!!!
PM – at least he had all the food groups represented (unless the food groups in your house are “beer, pretzels, beer, hot dogs, and beer”.)
We have too much to eat, and yet we consider that a “problem”. Seems a bit oxymoronic to me, but then I have my own ideas on how to handle the whole portion size thing:
1) When cooking at home, only prepare as much as you expect people to eat. For my family, that means basically one serving, each.
2) Stay away from ‘all-you-can-eat’ buffets, unless that is the experience you are after (sometimes I go to one when I only feel like one meal a day, or if I am in a casino in LA.)
3) If you find yourself eating too much, start reducing the amount you eat slowly (for example, I am downsizing my soup portions at lunch from 16 oz to 12 oz – but if one of my favorite soups is on the menu, I will splurge that day.)
4) Be thankful that you have this problem, and not the opposite as so many do.
~EdT.
“When cooking at home, only prepare as much as you expect people to eat. For my family, that means basically one serving, each.”
Good suggestions, Ed. However, my good intentions are often overtaken by the fact that most recipes (and things like Mac & Cheese in a box — a staple…) serve far more than my household needs.
All in all, it’s a royal pain in the derriere… although I do agree, I’d prefer this problem to its converse. However, I can’t help wondering whether this “feast” mentalilty doesn’t stem from our society’s success.