Actually, Cathy, you nailed it with that last one. Portion sizes are ridiculous in the United States, and they’re the REAL reason for the obesity epidemic (that, plus our culture trained us ever since the Great Depression to clean our plates rather than actually saving some of the food for later, because we never knew when that food was going to be available again! Remember the mantra of those days: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!”).
It is strange really – especially in the United States. You go to a high-end restaurant with high prices and you get a small portion on a large plate. Perfectly sized portion really because you may even have room for dessert. Yet go to a reasonably priced restaurant and you get a huge portion on a large plate. Sometimes even after splitting a meal with my wife we still do not have room for dessert.
Hope everyone in the Clan is having a great day. Finally got more snow here last night and today. Glad my wonderful neighbour wants me to use his tractor to clear both our driveways when he is away. Way too much to shovel by hand.
While portion sizes have gotten huge, another major problem is too much sugar/corn syrup. Think about it, if you eat a huge amount of carrots, for example, you’re not going to get fat (you might get orange skin though!). But if you add a form of sugar to it and turn it into carrot cake, then you will get fat. Sugar is truly the biggest problem. It’s in store-bought bread, salad dressing, spaghetti sauce, almost anything that is pre-made. If you make it yourself, you can try not to add it. For example, I have a great recipe for banana muffins, with no sugar or fat added (and it uses oatmeal so it’s gluten free). Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed cakes and cookies and so on for the holiday season, but it’s really not a habit.
Hello Cathy friends! Happy Tuesday! So tired! Hopefully I’ll get some sleep tonight…zzzzzz :-) I hope everyone had a great day!
Everything in moderation…I eat sugar, I eat fat, I still manage to keep my lifetime status at weight watchers….because I don’t eat a lot of it. Portion distortion is the culprit in most cases….especially in the US.
Lee Cox over 6 years ago
Actually, Cathy, you nailed it with that last one. Portion sizes are ridiculous in the United States, and they’re the REAL reason for the obesity epidemic (that, plus our culture trained us ever since the Great Depression to clean our plates rather than actually saving some of the food for later, because we never knew when that food was going to be available again! Remember the mantra of those days: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!”).
hendelca Premium Member over 6 years ago
It is strange really – especially in the United States. You go to a high-end restaurant with high prices and you get a small portion on a large plate. Perfectly sized portion really because you may even have room for dessert. Yet go to a reasonably priced restaurant and you get a huge portion on a large plate. Sometimes even after splitting a meal with my wife we still do not have room for dessert.
Hope everyone in the Clan is having a great day. Finally got more snow here last night and today. Glad my wonderful neighbour wants me to use his tractor to clear both our driveways when he is away. Way too much to shovel by hand.
lightenup Premium Member over 6 years ago
While portion sizes have gotten huge, another major problem is too much sugar/corn syrup. Think about it, if you eat a huge amount of carrots, for example, you’re not going to get fat (you might get orange skin though!). But if you add a form of sugar to it and turn it into carrot cake, then you will get fat. Sugar is truly the biggest problem. It’s in store-bought bread, salad dressing, spaghetti sauce, almost anything that is pre-made. If you make it yourself, you can try not to add it. For example, I have a great recipe for banana muffins, with no sugar or fat added (and it uses oatmeal so it’s gluten free). Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed cakes and cookies and so on for the holiday season, but it’s really not a habit.
Hello Cathy friends! Happy Tuesday! So tired! Hopefully I’ll get some sleep tonight…zzzzzz :-) I hope everyone had a great day!
rgcviper over 6 years ago
If you ask me, it’s time to send carbs to time-out on one side of the room, and fat to time-out on the other.
HI, MOM. Greetings, Clan.
lindz.coop Premium Member over 6 years ago
Everything in moderation…I eat sugar, I eat fat, I still manage to keep my lifetime status at weight watchers….because I don’t eat a lot of it. Portion distortion is the culprit in most cases….especially in the US.