How did today’s oversize portions and appetites become the norm? It didn’t happen by accident or by some inevitable evolutionary process. Portions started increasing sometime in the early 1970s as manufacturers and fast-food restaurants began feeding consumers hungry for bonuses and bargains. Because the shift was gradual, most people didn’t notice it. “The biggest problem with larger portions is not just the added calories associated with them, but rather a shift in our thinking of what is a normal serving,” says Wahida Karmally, Ph.D., R.D., director of nutrition at Columbia University. “Serving sizes that were satisfying 30 years ago are now often considered too small and inadequate.”
As a result, children are growing up thinking that their supersize portions are perfectly OK. But that’s not OK with Karmally. “The impact on future generations is a significant concern,” she says. The 6-ounce bagel a child might eat for breakfast is actually equivalent to six slices of bread. A 4-inch bakery cookie has the calorie tally of six to eight Oreos.
“Visual clues are important,” says Barbara Rolls, Ph.D., nutrition professor at Pennsylvania State University. A study she conducted showed that adults, when served four different portions of macaroni and cheese, ate 30 percent more calories when given the largest portion. Fewer than half noticed any difference in serving sizes. Likewise, men and women were served 6-, 8-, 10-, and 12-inch submarine sandwiches. Given the 12-inch sub, women ate 31 percent more calories and men 56 percent more.
Interestingly, those who ate more food did not necessarily feel more full. Apparently part of the solution lies in being aware that most of us eat what’s in front of us. If we put less food on our plates, we might eat less.
Consider These Facts:
Today a two-fisted (4-inch) cookie is the norm. In calories, it equals six to eight Oreos.
1960 homemade sandwich: 2 slices of bread + 1 slice of bologna
2006 homemade sandwich: 2 slices of hearty bread + 10 slices of turkey
While what you eat is important, knowing how much to eat is critical to controlling your calorie intake and weight.
Fill up a 9-inch plate instead of an 11-inch one, and you’ll eat 18 percent fewer calories.
The impact on children, who believe supersize portions are normal, is significant.
All content on this Web site, including medical opinion and any other health-related information, is for informational purposes only and should not be considered to be a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation. Use of this site and the information contained herein does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.
Previous
