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Scuba

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5. Food Portion Sizes Have Grown -- A Lot

Tue Nov 26, 2013, 09:57 AM

Nov 2013

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/portion-size/MY02121

The new (ab)normal — Are bigger portions the norm?

The average restaurant meal today is more than four times larger than in the 1950s, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which created a graphic to drive home the changes. Check it out at http://makinghealtheasier.org/newabnormal.

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=129685

Food Portion Sizes Have Grown -- A Lot

"Between 1977 and 1996, food portion sizes increased both inside and outside the home for all categories except pizza," wrote the study's authors, Samara Joy Nielsen and Barry M. Popkin. "The sizes of the increase are substantial."

The data revealed that over the past 20 years:

Hamburgers have expanded by 23 percent; A plate of Mexican food is 27 percent bigger; Soft drinks have increased in size by 52 percent; Snacks, whether they be potato chips, pretzels or crackers, are 60 percent larger.

Not surprising, the prevalence of adult obesity in the United States has increased from 14.5 in 1971 to 30.9 percent in 1999.

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I wish more restaurants were willing to serve half portions [View all] MissMillie Nov 2013 OP

I've often noticed that when they do serve half portions, they aren't half the price. Silent3 Nov 2013 #1

The cost of the food served in a restaurant MineralMan Nov 2013 #6

Yes, I realize that. Silent3 Nov 2013 #8

A lot of restaurants offer smaller servings in other ways. MineralMan Nov 2013 #10

Yes... but I'd bet this would just be an excuse to charge more (or the same) for smaller portions. hlthe2b Nov 2013 #2

Most restaurants serve ridiculously oversized portions. eppur_se_muova Nov 2013 #3

Do you usually eat alone? cbayer Nov 2013 #4

Mr. Frazzled and I often share dishes at a restaurant frazzled Nov 2013 #11

We do the same and only rarely does anyone seem to mind. cbayer Nov 2013 #14

some restaurants have the nerve to charge a 'plate' charge ProdigalJunkMail Nov 2013 #17

It's generally low and I don't usually object. cbayer Nov 2013 #18

for the most part I agree with you... ProdigalJunkMail Nov 2013 #19

The tipping part is really important and I am glad that you recognize that. cbayer Nov 2013 #20

i too have waited tables and bartended ProdigalJunkMail Nov 2013 #26

Food Portion Sizes Have Grown -- A Lot Scuba Nov 2013 #5

I actually order an appetizer and a salad a lot of times MineralMan Nov 2013 #7

I wish so as well, but pipi_k Nov 2013 #9

It's not a matter of "reheating", but salad leftovers often don't carry away well... Silent3 Nov 2013 #13

As a catering chef, I can help with some of those. Chan790 Nov 2013 #21

Excellent pointers! Thanks! nt xulamaude Nov 2013 #24

Wow... Xyzse Nov 2013 #25

I never pipi_k Nov 2013 #31

What About Kiddie Meals? grilled onions Nov 2013 #12

Lots of restaurants only serve kid portions to people younger than 12 MissMillie Nov 2013 #15

I have often though they should do this.. because so much food gets wasted SoCalDem Nov 2013 #16

My girlfriend and I ran a cafe and had a kids menu with smaller portions. brewens Nov 2013 #22

Amen to this AngryAmish Nov 2013 #23

Serve half portions … and give the other half to the poor. Vox Moi Nov 2013 #27

A lot of Restaurants Offer Small Plates Nowdays On the Road Nov 2013 #28

When I traveled in Spain, I ate my dinner at Tapas bars. The Spanish eat VERY late in the evening... CTyankee Nov 2013 #29

i ate about 1/3 of a steak recently. knew it wasn't gonna reheat weel enough, pansypoo53219 Nov 2013 #30