Things are slowly returning to normal for me and I’m glad to be blogging again. I’ve missed you all!! I’m not back in Brazil yet. I still have about a week left to spend in the US.
Of course, it is that time of year when everyone seems to get a little more focused on health and I’ve had a topic on my mind that really presented itself during our travels the last few weeks – portion sizes.
You probably know all there is to know about portion sizes and how the US in terms of restaurants and unhealthy eating has a really skewed view of what is appropriate.
If you do any traveling outside of the US, this is when the whole portion size issue really becomes quite baffling. I don’t think all countries have a good grasp on proper portions. For example, I think Brazil is almost as bad as the US when eating out. However, the majority of other places in this world serve a lot less food than we do.
A big reason why this came to mind is because of our trip to Jamaica. We stay at Sandals Resorts when we are there. Despite the fact that many people think all-inclusive resorts are all buffets, we know this isn’t true and I can’t wait to show you some of the amazing food we had in my post tomorrow.
When I read travel reviews about these resorts I almost always find a large majority of people complaining that the portions were too small at the resort. We even witnessed a couple ordering two entrees each.
I guess people don’t understand the idea that there are supposed to be 4 to 5 course meals and you are supposed to order all courses. This means each item is small. Personally, I love this because you get to try a lot of different things. We are beyond stuffed after all the courses which makes the small-portion complaint unbelievable to me.
It reminds me how our ideas of an appropriate amount of food to sustain our bodies are so amazingly far off.
When we came back and then arrived in Vegas we were greeted with the massive amounts of food USAmericans have become accustomed to. Below is a picture of my LUNCH-sized Asian salad from Grand Luxe Café in the Palazzo. Look at that thing! It is huge! It was awesome for sure, but it should have been about ½ the size.
Now here is a picture of my lunch salad in Jamaica. A much better size. It was amazing by the way. It had curry chicken, toasted coconut and mango chutney on top.
It can be quite interesting if you get into a conversation of who’s at fault for this distorted portion problem. Consumers blame restaurants and companies. Restaurants blame the fact that the customer demands it so they give them what they want. My perception is we are all at fault.
If you have ever struggled with weight loss I am sure you know that our stomach can be trained regarding how much food you need to be full. No, at the moment, I don’t have the scientific evidence to support it, but from personal experience I know my stomach will expand and shrink over time.
If we train ourselves to stop when we are full and to eat less food our body and stomach will eventually be satisfied with less. I go through this each year around the holidays. I go into them needing only small portions to fill me up. Then, after several weeks of eating too much, I find I can eat more and more before feeling too full. The beginning of the new year is spent getting things back to normal.
I guess my question is, how in the world are we going to solve this problem? I don’t see restaurants giving smaller portions anytime soon and I don’t see people without health at the front of the priorities to eat less. Sure, you can order a ½ salad at places or take ½ home, but not everyone is going to do this. Basically the people who need to do this for their health are not doing it. How are we going to retrain ourselves as a society to eat normally again? Will we?
Things just seem so far out of control that this issue truly worries me. Not only is it a problem for our health, but also our environment. We use a lot of resources for these mega portions.
What is your opinion on the issue?
Welcome back!! 🙂
I think that restaurants need to start serving normal portions, and not focus on piling as much food on one plate for a certain price.
I was in Costa Rica over the holidays and noticed that even there the portion sizes were huge (we were in a heavily “touristy” area though!). They did have some awesome black beans down there though!
Yayyy I am so glad you’re back 🙂 I missed you. Can’t wait to see the pics from the trip.
I agree with your thoughts. I think we cannot blame obesity, etc on restaurants but restaurants should be more responsible with their portions!!
Great post. Maybe with food costs rising restaurants will have to cut back on portion size???
I’ve always been somewhat confounded by the portion sizes in the US (it’s not as much of an issue here in Ireland I think).
There’s a perception thing to deal with, I think. That image of the land of plenty, where everything (not just food portions) is bigger/better/faster. Being served large portions may somehow re-inforce that image. Methinks there’s a lot of re-training needed to adjust peoples views.
Maybe rising food costs will force some kind of change – though it could go the other way, where you still get large portions but what you’re getting is more likely to be made from cheaper-to-mass-produce processed food – which doesn’t do anything for better nutrition… it is indeed a dilemma and I imagine that, whatever else it needs, some leadership on the issue from folks in influential positions will ultimately be required. Not an easy one, that’s for sure!
That is such a tough issue! Total generalization here but it seems that people wants lots of stuff — food, clothing, toys, whatever — and they want it cheap.
Welcome back and happy new year!
I have always been upset over how large portion sizes are in restaurants! It seems wasteful!
Excellent issue to bring to the forefront. There’s a principle in economics called “diminishing returns” wherein one reaches a certain point that the benefits of one’s actions are no longer positive. It’s said that it takes 20 mins for the hormone leptin to take effect and signal our brains that we are full; unfortunately, as many of us are taught to ‘clean our plates’, we’re too busy with continued eating to register the signal and go well beyond that point!
The mandated posting of nutrition information in NYC seems to be working as far as informing people how many calories they are consuming w/each order. Not the ultimate solution but a step in the right direction: self-awareness and nutritional education!
Oh yes, portion sizes here are out of control! If you can force yourself to always get a to-go box, it can be ok, but that’s not always a good answer. I LOVE the idea of 4 or 5 small courses, but I also adore tapas. How wonderful to get to experience several small bites rather than being stuck with a single humongous entree! Wish that was the norm here.
Glad to see you back!
Great post! I think it is all about choices really. In the US you can get huge portions at most restaurants but there are some nicer restaurants catching on.
When I lived in Minnesota I saw quite a few restaurants there boasting reduced portion sizes. It almost like they thought it was a fad…how silly right?
The problem with that is they didn’t lower prices and the average person doesn’t want to pay $30-$50 for their entre. Which leads us back to the mass producded chain restaurants who believe that bigger portions and faster service is what Americans want, and apparently, for the most party, they are right.
I did notice that for a period of time (they may still be doing it) TGI Fridays was promoting a menu addition of smaller portions and I believe even lighter options as well, at a lesser price. I give them credit for making an effort. That is more than most restaurants are willing to do.
Portion sizes seem to be smaller here in Europe which I welcome. I always seem to feel the need to clean my plate – even if I’m stuffed! I try to eat more slowly and stop when I know I’ve had enough (or almost enough so I have room for dessert!). Having worked in a restaurant it doesn’t make sense to have plates coming back with not all the food consumed… while portions sizes may be too big for some and for our waistlines – most people, especially in the US, are demanding these portions sizes, which restaurants deliver. Its no question that we are “over-consuming” and much more so than years past. We must keep our calorie consumptions in check and restaurants will follow suit…if consumers demand it.
Veggiegirl – I would love less food for less money.
Blake – I notice the same thing in Brazil. There portions aren’t much smaller than the US. Maybe it is a Latin/Central/South America thing. I’d love to see Costa Rica.
Erica – Thanks! It is definitely going to take a combined effor to change.
Jenn – We can only hope. Maybe the rising costs will be a positive for health.
Daily Spud – The rising food costs could either help or hurt when it comes to health. That is for sure. I agree that leadership is key.
My limited experience in Ireland was pretty appropriate portions even in more touristy areas.
Happy Runner – I agree. It all seems to be about more, more more. We’ve got to break that way of thinking.
Meg – That has become the biggest thing for me in addition to excess food – excess waste.
Tangled Noodle – Thanks for the interesting points. I am definitely a believer in the 20 minute theory/fact (whatever you want to call it). Slowing down helps, then we just have to listen to those hunger/satiety cues.
Cathy – It seems to much easier to stay in control when you have smaller portions to deal with.
Mrs H – Thanks for your comment. It did seem like a fad. The price is a biggie. People don’t like to feel as though they aren’t getting their money’s worth. It will have to be smaller portions for less money to make an influence.
gastro – I definitely agree about portions in Europe just from the few places I’ve been. Oh, I always have to save room for dessert. 🙂
I think we do have a lot of power as consumers and it really could start with us when it comes to changing the huge portion trend.