In the 1950’s the average fast food meal of a cheeseburger, fries and a soda was about 600 calories. If you were to get that same meal today you would consume over 1200 calories in one meal! What’s wrong with that? What’s wrong with us? I like to get the most for my money just like everybody else but when I was a kid and bought popcorn at the movies it was about enough to fill up a small sandwich baggie. Now for a small fortune (which we for some reason pay) you get enough to over-fill a Home Depot 2 gallon bucket. And for a quarter more you can fill up the trunk of your car! Save your quarter!
For the most part we have no control over the amount of food given to us at a restaurant but beware. When we have giant plates of food in front of us common sense should tell us to eat until we feel “full” but research studies show that when people are given more food, they tend to eat more of it, even past the point of feeling full.
So what do we do? Well when you are at home you can control that. First, use smaller plates. Plate size has also grown over the last few decades. Second, recognize what the size of a real portion is. A portion of meat should be about the size of a deck of cards. A portion of fruit or vegetables should be about the size of a baseball. A portion of a small baked potato is about the size of a computer mouse.
And last , if you are eating out and you are given a Super Sized meal, split it with someone else or divide each dish in half and take the rest home for another meal. Then you will really be getting more for your money.
The Portion Plate: http://www.theportionplate.com/?gclid=CLHFgpidmZgCFRKLxwoddXuSmw
I blame my parents for my overeating - it still haunts me: "Clean your plate! If you put it on your plate, you eat it!, You can't get up until that plate is empty!"
ReplyDeleteI'm trying. Thanks for this post.