Portion sizes – then and now
11
June
6/11/2008:
What did YOU eat for lunch today?
[Note: This is a Hoboken411 reader contributed article. Reader "Electric Eye" isn't working this week, and will be submitting one or more "vacation articles" each day! Thanks!]
We’re eating a lot more!
I came across this post describing the portion size of food from the past compared to today’s. It is kind of interesting to see how small they were in the past. I am one of the first to complain when I see I am getting less than I used to for the same or more money. I don’t know how accurate this post is but I am sure for the products they list it is. I do remember sodas and burgers being smaller, but then again you could get alot more for less in the past. I remember getting a box of cereal and as soon as I got home I would have to dump the whole box in a bowl just to get the toy in the bottom. Now, all you have to do is open the box and reach in to grab it, the cereal only fills up half the box.
Bagels
Because portions are now so large, it’s hard to understand what a “serving size” is supposed to be. Today’s bagel counts for three servings of bread, but many of us would consider it one serving. Larger sizes at restaurants have also contributed to larger sizes when eating at home. A study comparing eating habits today with twenty years ago found that participants poured themselves about 20 percent more cornflakes and 30 percent more milk than twenty years ago.
Cheeseburgers
According to a 2007 paper published in the Journal of Public Health Policy, portion sizes offered by fast food chains are two to five times larger than when first introduced. When McDonald’s first started in 1955, its only hamburger weighed around 1.6 ounces; now, the largest hamburger patty weighs 8 ounces, an increase of 500 percent. And while a Big Mac used to be considered big, it’s on the smaller side of many burger options. At Burger King, you can get the Triple Whopper; at Ruby Tuesday’s there’s the Colossal Burger; and Carl’s Junior has the Western Bacon Six Dollar Burger
June 11th 2008 - 14:31:45 |
No wonder there are so many over weight and morbidly obese people “running around” out there!
Chop!Chop!
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June 11th 2008 - 14:33:30 |
I wouldn’t mind seeing a marked reduction in portion sizes. What restaurants serve these days is rediculous.
These days, when I am with my girl, we get an appetizer and an entree and split it. It’s the only way we’re not throwing out or taking home a lot of food.
It’s not wonder so many Americans have gotten so chubby.
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June 11th 2008 - 14:37:30 |
Dinner plates in the 1950’s-1960’s used to be 8 inches, and they are now 10-12 inch plates in most restaurants. When they fill them with pasta its ALOT of exta food.
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June 11th 2008 - 14:43:55 |
Most portion sizes are ridiculous at restaurants these days. I would much rather eat a meal consisting of small multiple courses than the huge TGIF or Outback-style plates served at most places. It isn’t what we eat but how much (and the amount of preservatives and processing) that is making us fat (coupled with the lack of exercise.)
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June 11th 2008 - 14:56:18 |
It’s a conspiracy created by the bathroom tissue industry. Food portions keep getting bigger but toilet paperrolls are getting smaller and smaller forcing you to buy more to take care of business.
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June 11th 2008 - 16:54:56 |
It’s like the Hoboken Municipal Budget, 2000 on the left, 2008 on the right.
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June 11th 2008 - 17:33:48 |
If you’re comparing a regular hamburger with a triple cheeseburger, then yes there are obviously larger options available. It’s like comparing an ‘81 chevette to an ‘08 Maybach and saying cars have gotten 600% larger.
What I have noticed over the last 6 months or so is that in conjunction with rising prices, the serving sizes have been getting consistently smaller – that is, of course, if you are choosing the same thing every time.
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June 11th 2008 - 17:34:37 |
Watch the film, “Supersize Me.” Fascinating stuff. An example I’ve witnessed in town is that a lot of people prefer Robongi as a sushi restaurant. It’s always crowded. I was amazed at the portions of sushi – they’re huge. Even sushi has been supersized, American style.
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