I’ve had two food and health related topics on my mind lately – how the economy is influencing our food choices and gigantic portions. At first I didn’t really feel like my thoughts on the two had anything to do with each other, but the more I ponder it I think maybe they do.
Despite absorbing a small hike in food prices into our budget, living abroad has afforded us the luxury of avoiding most of the current economic struggles being experience by many in the States. Everyone is talking about it of course and I’ve been reading just about everything I come across on the subject. Though, I’ve realized that there is a big difference in reading about it and experiencing it.
When I go back to the US to visit it is much like a vacation. Everyone is happy to see me (thankfully) and typically when people want to get together it is to go eat a meal in one form or another. This leads to great opportunities for observing how the economy has changed eating out, if at all.
For example, in my hometown there has been relatively no change in the amount of people out in restaurants. My brother recently moved back to our hometown from Florida and is constantly commenting about vast differences in eating out between where he lived there and our hometown. He says that the numbers of people he saw eating out in south Florida have dropped drastically – no people hanging outside waiting for a table on the heavily restaurant-populated streets. However, in IN it seems nothing has changed.
So it has me wondering – are these simply the people that the economy has somehow failed to influence, or is it a case of drowning sorrows about current situations. To simplify, are people living beyond their means to begin with and say “What’s another charge on the credit card. Let’s go eat.”
This is where the issue of portion sizes comes in. My in-laws took me to Red Lobster while I was home last time. We all ordered off the lunch menu. The portions were appropriately sized, maybe even a little big for lunch. As I ate my meal and as we exited the restaurant something drew my attention to all the plates sitting on the tables around me (all tables which were full, by the way). I would estimate that 75% of people had large dinner platters, not the smaller lunch menu plates.
Now I would love to assume that this was the large meal for those people that day and they were going to have a light dinner, but our eating habits in the US as a whole tell me I would probably be wrong. Not only did these people have huge portions, but they also had the extra expense of purchasing a dinner entrée for lunch.
I used to feel that portion size was an issue that we were gaining control of – more restaurants offer half portions, people are educated to take ½ home in a to-go box, etc. However, I have to admit there are times when I get a bit scared for us and think – how in the world are we going to get a grasp on this unhealthy practice?
In the last 3 months I have had half salads on two occasions that could have fed two or more people. When something like that arrives to the table at first I start to chuckle about how huge it is, but then the reality sets in along with the feeling that it isn’t a laughing matter at all. It is really serious – a serious waste of resources and a risk to the health of those people who have unhealthy relationships with food.
Now, I realize the economy has affected people in many different ways and I am grossly generalizing through my observations. However, I can’t help but question what the key will be to solving our issues with portion sizes regardless of whether it is the consumer or restaurant’s fault. If a failing economy, loss of jobs and tight budgets doesn’t make us order off a less expensive menu to save money, and the health risks don’t scare us enough to eat smaller portions what will finally make use eat the way in which we were designed to.
Me? I don’t have any answers at the moment, but I definitely want to know yours.
This is an interesting issue. When my hubby and I go out to eat lately, we’ve noticed that our favorite place isn’t as full as it used to be; but downtown Toronto is hopping, as always. We have always taken half home for the next day–and this is a restaurant that doesn’t supply oversize portions, just fairly big ones.
What I think HAS happened with changes in the economy is that fewer people are buying prepared foods, and more people are going back to whole foods (ie, cooking from scratch) because it’s cheaper. One good outcome, anyway!
portion control is one of the most difficult things i’ve ever dealt with. i’m so much of a “full plate” person – i have actually bought smaller plates, and i’m fully convinced that i’m full after finishing a “full” small plate, versus eating the same amount on a bigger plate. it’s so bizarre. i haven’t really thought about the effect of the economy on portion control, but i’m sure it has made an impacy
Ricki – That is a great point. I agree, I’ve noticed much more interest in the whole foods to save money. I think the food world is responding to this too as tips are popping up everywhere.
Heather – That is so true. I’m the same way. Tangled Noodle is doing a series of posts about that exact topic.
I wonder if there isn’t an element of “comfort eating” about the situation you describe, where people were having dinner portions at lunch. Or perhaps it feels like simple act of defiance in the face of difficult times – if I can still both eat out and have a heaped plate of food, then things can’t be so bad. It’s an interesting one for sure.
It is amazing how GINORMOUS our portions are now and, in a way, it hadnt occurred to me that thats yet another reason why I tend to eat clean…IM A CLEAN THE PLATER and when the food is clean (grilled steamed and some veggies) it’s ok.
now the supersizing? still out of control huh and getting cheaper and cheaper and NOT in a good way
Daily Spud – Well said, that is exactly kind of thing I am thinking when I observe these behaviors. Of course, it is wrong to generalize, but for some I think this might be true.
Miz Fit – Good point. It does seem that even though portions are massive at most chain restaurants they are somehow still pumping out the special prices. Now that people may be on a tighter budget the deal is appealing – more food (that we don’t need) for the money.
Interesting observations. I actually heard (I’m not sure if this is true) that the number of people eating out has actually increased because its sort of a cheap-er “treat”. Since we’re all cutting back on shopping and vacations etc, eating out has become the new “treat”.
Very interesting and thought provoking post. I sure don’t have any answers but I defintely agree!
I know I certinaly don’t like the huge portions because it makes me want to eat more than I know I should! (And that’s one reason I’m glad we rarely ever eat out and when we do, it’s somewhere I know I can get a lighter, healthier portion).
I’ve been seeing stories about ‘recession pounds’ – the danger that people will actually gain weight despite the cost of food and meals. The reason? Many seem to think that people will not so much stop or buy less of any given food and cease dining out; instead, they will switch to cheaper alternatives – which may mean foods that have more highly processed ingredients, available in bulk or restaurants who offer quantity and value.
My husband and I are feeling the crunch so we’ve stopped going out. I’m turning into (hopefully) a better cook because of it but cooking at home is can still be pricey with regard to fresh vegetables and meats.
One other thing: you mentioned seeing all the platters at each table. A great thing about eating at home is that the food is SHARED! Perhaps if we can get more into a mindset of communal dining, we can wean ourselves from feeling compelled to finish a whole plate by ourselves.
I’m pretty sure I read on Marion Nestle’s Food Politics blog that portion sizes in the Joy of Cooking have increased since its original publication. So what used to ‘serve 8’ now ‘serves 4’. Crazy, huh?
Or oh oh what about muffins? My mom’s muffin pan makes normal sized muffins my whole life but once I got older and started eating out I saw restaurant only serve big huge muffins!
Erica – Thanks for sharing. That is a really interesting thought. Definitely could be true. A French restaurant would certainly be less of splurge than a trip there. Interesting that people would be looking at food in this way.
lesley – We don’t eat out much either. We’ve found that when we do in the US and here in Brazil we split a lot of things.
Tangled Noodle – I’ve been reading some of those same things. I agree with you that cooking at home can be expensive. Along with what you said I’d throw in some of the more exotic spices some recipes call for. Lasts a while, but it can add up. Great point about the sharing!
Michelle – I just started her book. Thanks for sharing that. I had no idea, but I do have that cookbook and love it! Oh man, muffins! We’ve been lead to believe that they are supposed to be so big that at-home muffins look like mini ones often leading to breakfast disappointment. 🙁
Great post! I hate that portion sizes are so big. It is too tempting for people to say no, they eat whatever is in front of them. We don’t eat out much for that reason…and we think we can cook it better..ha! But if we do go out we split something or take some home!
The economic downturn certainly has made a difference in London – a city based in the services, and most of them financial. While I haven’t lived here long enough to notice patterns at local restaurants the credit crunch lunch is popular. Lots of restaurants offer deals like 2 courses + glass of wine (everyone seems to drink here at lunch and then go back to work…). I just had a three course lunch (large portions and great food) for £12.00 – a total steal and unheard of six months ago!
When we first moved here 1 british pound equaled 2 US dollars so everything seemed so expensive so we rarely ate out. The currencies have balanced out a bit, but we tend to eat at home still.
Here in the UK, discount brands for food are doing quite well (like the walmart effect in the US). Organics and the like have also dropped in sales, which concerns me. When money is tight you have to make choices and people shouldn’t have to choose less quality/nutritious food. Food equality – that a whole new can of worms…
Lori, I read your post last night but waited until today to comment so I could mull it over. It’s interesting because six months ago I was seeing fewer people eating out than I am today. This month I have eaten out a few times and each time the restaurants are pretty much full. I’m hoping that people are spending wisely, but at the same time still spending. Let me explain…when I quit my job in October we had to really be on target with our budget, whereas before we had a budget with (as an example) $100 a month to splurge, so we could go to lunch, dinner, movie, etc. We would go out and do something (date night) about 2 or 3 times a month. In October we stopped going out unless it was birthday, etc. As I kept reading and seeing the economy do what it was doing I realized that (A) I missed going out because it wasn’t something we did ALL the time anyway and (B) we needed to support our local economy. We have a lot of locally owned businesses and they needed our support. We watch businesses close down weekly and it’s hard to watch. So now we are finding ways to get that spending money back (selling books on ebay took us out to a movie, using discounted gift certs from restaurant.com) and we are spending it where we will get the most enjoyment and it will serve a need (keeping businesses afloat). I chose to quit my job because it was a terrible place to work and I had given them enough, but it puts us in a funny place because replacing that income is now much more difficult. I can go out and get a job tomorrow, it just might not be a job I enjoy, and I won’t do that again unless I absolutely have to.
As far as portions go, we are starting to see restaurants offer “cheaper” portions. I am seeing a lot of coupons, some for 50% off a 2nd entree or buy 1 get 1 free, and from places that never gave out coupons or ran specials in the past. I have read of several restaurants offering full meal (3 course meals) specials and one of our local restaurants is allowing customers to pay what they feel their meal is worth. You have to pay for your beverage but what you pay for your meal is up to you. It was on the news, and the owner said it was working well for them and their clients, that business was picking up, so they were going to keep doing it for a while. I know that personally I order based on portion size, so I usually order a lunch item or an appetizer as my meal. And since appetizers these days seemed to be priced like meals I get a better portion and they still get a good tip. 🙂 I think the big plates is still a draw for people. I remember that people used to feel that restaurant food was so overpriced. Then the plate sizes when up and no one seemed to notice that the prices went up too, they seem to think they are getting a better deal, but it’s way too much food. I’m still mulling this one and I don’t know what the answer is here but these are some of my thoughts! I know I would love to see restaurants offer smaller portions because it would expand my options for date night!! My hope is that as we get to a better place that people think about where we’ve been and how they can be part of the solution, rather than just playing the blame game. Great post.
Sorry, didn’t mean to ramble on, I just had too much to say!! 🙂
Maria – Seeing some of your posts I have no doubt that you can probably cook it better as well. Ha, ha! It takes a lot of will power to stope from eating those big portions even when we are full which is what I think got us into our weight problems in the first places.
Gastroanthro – Thanks so much for sharing your experiences from around there. I hate to see unhealthy choices being made due to save money although I realize often people feel they have no choice. Sometimes it is a warranted feeling and others a lack of education.
I loved that you mentioned the 2 course meal plus wine deals. I saw a lot of that in Europe on our last trip. It is something that defines the area for me – great food and moderate consumption of alcohol even in the middle of the day. I remember they sold beer and wine in the school cafeteira at the University of Wien when my husband was there.
ChefBliss – I really appreciate your thought out response. I’m glad you brought up the issue of the local business. I think Tangeled Noodle had mentioned that on one of my other related posts. I agree that we don’t want to see quality local businesses close due to all these financial situations. I noticed the deals around my hometown as well. Lots of 2 for a special price kind of thing. I do hope that one day as a society we can finally sit down to a meal of appropriate size for an appropriate cost and truly enjoy it without complaint or reservation.