Why People Eat More

Fascinating, and absolutely true. "Fatland: How Americans Became the Fattest People in the World" by Greg Crister talks about this phenomenon. Take a look at the enormous soft drink sizes these days, and at Starbucks (tall, grande, venti, where "tall" is actually the smallest size!).

Now are brains see the right portions as too little since we got too used to big portions.

talk about portion distortion- you think Starbucks is bad? Canada's Second Cup removed their small size (which wasn't exactly small... more like between a small and a medium) and moved all the sizes up to the point where the Extra large is now the Large. AAAH!
I ordered a small iced drink the other day and got what I thought was a mistaken medium. Apparently not... and I finished it, with later regret. *sigh* this is frustrating, and there is no smaller option anymore.

I agree with this article. It is so much easier for me to feel satisfied when I'm given a smaller portion and can eat the whole thing, rather than having to have the self restraint and eat less of a larger portion. I will always eat a little more given the latter of the two options.

I wish we could pay for half portions in restaurants. I've often asked places to make me a smaller portion and that I'd still pay full price, I just wanted less.

I remember eating at a restraunt one time and couldn't finish my meal it was so large. I felt bad because it was so good too, but wished I didn't have to pay for the uneaten portion. I also didn't want to bag it as the freshly cooked appeal would be lost when I eat it the next day. So it went to waste and I paid for what I didn't eat. There was no way I was going to force myself to eat it either.

I would have thought most restraunts, for example, would be wise to offer smaller portions anyway. Slightly lower the price to be more attractive. Or better yet, offer "free" seconds for the other portion that would otherwise be on the plate for those who WANT to eat more, but don't change the price. Creates more satisfying customers knowing your restraunt offers free seconds if you wanted it. Heck, even offer the free seconds to be bagged up for you to take home...Shoot, eat dinner and take breakfast home for free? I'd eat at restraunt Xyz for $8.45 everyday for that deal.

Meh, wishful thinking I guess...

I guess its also about competition. All other things being equal, when a rival offers the same basic meal but more of it at the same price (or even lower), they will tend to attract more customers. I suppose thats how we got into this whole larger portions mess over the years. I know meals were not nearly as large 20 years ago as they are today. Then again, I guess it depends on where you are from.

That's why those "100 calorie" packs are going to be a big hit, I think. It removes any thinking that you'd need to do...you can eat the whole little bag and KNOW that you're only getting 100 calories of snack. Try doing that with an average vending machine snack. The bags of chips USED to be little 1-ounce bags, but now they have the Big Grab bags that are more than one serving (they might even be two) and the Mega Grab bags that are almost half the size of a full size bag of chips. It's extremely difficult to stop at just one serving of a snack served out of a huge sized container.

I also wish restaurants had half portions or something so you don't have to waste food you don't want to eat. I frequently end up throwing out the uneaten portion of my restaurant food because it really doesn't ever taste good the next day when you reheat it. And some places don't even offer a doggie-bag option. It really is no wonder we're so fat...portions are just gigantic everywhere you go.

Another way to look at it, especially when eating out is to choose the right things. Order a salad and request to make your own dressing. Ask for your food to be cooked in a healthier manner. They have to comply, and if the argue with you then just tell them that you are deadly allergic to everything that is bad and then they have no choice. Fore go the Acohol or pop and settle with a nice tea, coffee or just water. We have to start taking the onus on what we shove down our own throats. So it may take more effort. Remember the old line : A minute on the lips is an inch on the hips!

Also, when hitting the fast food places, you can get around the larger soda sizes by asking for extra ice. Have you ever noticed that the average cup of soda has about three cubes of ice in it? If you don't drink it quickly, it's warm. bleech. So I ask for extra, and they are usually generous. That way, I get my soda, it's nosebleed cold, and I get less of it - fewer calories - and ice water when it's gone. I also avoide the "combo" or "extra value" meals like the plague. I create my own - small burger, small fries (if I get fries at all), and a larger drink with the ice thing.

I wouldn't mind 1/2 of a portion in a restaurant if it also cost 1/2 as much. When I overeat, sometimes I feel like I never can get enough, (stomach stretches out.) When I use portion control, I fill full quicker, (stomach shrinks after a while.) I must say though, I usually pick the restaurants with the bigger portions. And that my friends is why I have a weight problem. I am working on it a little at a time.

I personally feel that buffet/smorgasbord restaurants are among some of the nastiest places to eat. I very rarely walk out of those places feeling happy.

Portion size has become a problem with eating out and at house dinners. Our bodies are not made to eat large portions at one time but to have frequent small meals throughout the day.

PT
move to portugal, we have that in pretty much every restaurant you serve yourself (from a tray on your table),pay half of the price if you only want half the portion...and guess what...from what i can see, people are not getting fat around here either!!

I agree with laura!
you just have to be smart about how you eat these days,
you cant trust whats just give to you.