Most of us while growing up were told by our parents that we had to finish what was on our dinner plate before we could leave the table. Especially in America, this logic could actually be hurting us. Our portions in America are much larger than other countries around the world. Think about when going out for a meal, should you really have to ask for a box to take leftovers home, or should the portion just be smaller? Large plates allow more food to be served making it more likely for someone to eat more.
America is one of the most overweight nations in the world and serving food on smaller plates and enforcing portion control could ultimately help solve this problem but cutting calories up to 20%. The size of plates ca
n play with your mind, “When the brain sees a large plate with white space surrounding the food, it unconsciously assumes the plate contains less food than a smaller-sized dish with no white space, when in fact, both plates contain the same amount.”
Most of us don’t know how big an actual standard portion is and that is where the problem begins, we think a portion is what is on our plate, when in reality, our plate contains multiple portions. Most people tend to eat with their eyes and not their stomachs, and most times their eyes are bigger. An example of this is was present at a health camp, “campers who were given larger bowls served and consumed 16% more cereal than those given smaller bowls.” The worst part of the study is that most of the campers that ate out of the bigger bowls thought they ate less than they actually did.
It is not just our plates increasing, it is the food itself. Foods like bagels, muffins, and cupcakes have all grown to be 2.5 times the size of a standard portion. Bigger is not always better. Having food on smaller plates helps to trick your mind that you are eating more because the plate is fuller.
I thought your post was very interesting. Personally, I always eat more than the people around me because I am taller, but now that I know that the portion sizes are much too large I am going to start watching what I eat. Luckily we can burn off some of the food walking all over campus from class to class. Great article!!
This post is very relevant to our society today. We as Americans truly don’t understand what an actual serving size is. This is only going to be the downfall of our overall health. I hope for future generations’ sake that there is a change in the size of plates and tray in cafeterias. This change will help kids learn what a proper serving size is, and therefore lead to less obesity.
I enjoyed reading this post because it seems very relevant in today’s society. I, too, have noticed that the portions of snacks and most meals has increased over time. I definitely agree that our nation struggles with being one of the most obese. The bigger the portions, the bigger the desire to eat more. The uncontrollable eating habits are a leading cause to obesity. I found this article and I thought it corroborates well with your research. Nicely done, very enlightening! http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/wecan/news-events/matte1.htm
I enjoyed reading this post because it seems very relevant in today’s society. I, too, have noticed that the portions of snacks and most meals has increased over time. I definitely agree that our nation struggles with being one of the most obese. The bigger the portions, the bigger the desire to eat more. The uncontrollable eating habits are a leading cause to obesity. I found this article and I thought it corroborates well with your research. Nicely done, very enlightening! http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/wecan/news-events/matte1.htm
This was a very relevant point to explore given that obesity and weight control is such a prevalent topic in our society. I found this study, which suggests that portion sizes in America have increased between 1977-1998. In addition, this study shows that there has been an increase in the prevalence in obesity in America since 1976 and 1994. When compared, the results of these two studies, one can draw a possible correlation between portion size and obesity in America. However, we cannot assume causality in this situation because it is plausible that a third variable is causing both of these trends. Similarly, reverse causality could be at work here, since it is plausible that the trend in weight gain is causing portion sizes to increase because people are eating more food to satisfy their larger appetites. Even so, the evidence in these studies is consistent with your hypothesis that portion sizes are increasing in America.
This was a very relevant point to explore given that obesity and weight control is such a prevalent topic in our society. I found this study, which suggests that portion sizes in America have increased between 1977-1998. In addition, this study shows that there has been an increase in the prevalence in obesity in America since 1976 and 1994. When compared, the results of these two studies, one can draw a possible correlation between portion size and obesity in America. However, we cannot assume causality in this situation because it is plausible that a third variable is causing both of these trends. Similarly, reverse causality could be at work here, since it is plausible that the trend in weight gain is causing portion sizes to increase because people are eating more food to satisfy their larger appetites. Even so, the evidence in these studies is consistent with your hypothesis that portion control is increasing in America.
Over the years, portion sizes have grown drastically, and so has the percentage of adults that are obese in the Untied States. Years ago, parents would tell their kids to clean their plates so that none of the food went to waste, but with today’s portions sizes, it’s difficult to clean your plate without gaining weight. This article offers some interesting statistics about how portion sizes have increased over the years. The article also references a study done by Penn State’s School of Health and Human Development that observed whether or not people eat more if they are given bigger portions. Obesity is still a relevant issue in the US, and reducing portion sizes would be a strong step towards resolving that issue.
Over the years, portion sizes have grown drastically, and so has the percentage of adults that are obese in the Untied States. Years ago, parents would tell their kids to clean their plates so that none of the food went to waste, but with today’s portions sizes, it’s difficult to clean your plate without gaining weight. This article offers some interesting statistics about how portion sizes have increased over the years. The article also references a study done by Penn State’s School of Health and Human Development that observed whether or not people eat more if they are given bigger portions. Obesity is still a relevant issue in the US, and reducing portion sizes would be a strong step towards resolving that issue.
Over the years, portion sizes have grown drastically, and so has the percentage of adults that are obese in the Untied States. Years ago, parents would tell their kids to clean their plates so that none of the food went to waste, but with today’s portions sizes, it’s difficult to clean your plate without gaining weight. This article offers some interesting statistics about how portion sizes have increased over the years. The article also references a study done by Penn State’s School of Health and Human Development that observed whether or not people eat more if they are given bigger portions. Obesity is still a relevant issue in the US, and reducing portion sizes would be a strong step towards resolving that issue.
Over the years, portion sizes have grown drastically, and so has the percentage of adults that are obese in the Untied States. Years ago, parents would tell their kids to clean their plates so that none of the food went to waste, but with today’s portions sizes, it’s difficult to clean your plate without gaining weight. This article offers some interesting statistics about how portion sizes have increased over the years. The article also references a study done by Penn State’s School of Health and Human Development that observed whether or not people eat more if they are given bigger portions. Obesity is still a relevant issue in the US, and reducing portion sizes would be a strong step towards resolving that issue.
I like this post. Everything you stated is so true. We tend to get more than we are actually going to eat – because our eyes are bigger than our stomachs. That being said, if we do not finish the food we either take it home to eat later or just try to stuff ourselves. Another statement that should not be used: you can have dessert if you finish all of you dinner. That just teaches kids that they have to over stuff themselves to get a treat. Usually they are not even hungry for dessert after, but think it has to be eaten. Great post!
I strongly agree with a lot of points made in this post. One of my best friends is from Finland and I remember her always being shocked by how big the portions were when we went out to eat. I never realized how much of a difference there was until I went to Europe. The portion sizes were indeed smaller. I noticed that most people ate enough to satisfy there hunger, but didn’t overeat, which is probably why they were all so in shape there. I understand that people should have the freedom to choose how much they want to eat, but I think America should at least make the portion sizes similar to Europe, because that could potentially lower obesity here.
your blog post is very interesting since i’ve basically been having to watch everything i eat to lose weight. I’m an international student and my first time visiting the US i was so shocked by the food portions. I think my freshman 15 was more like freshman 30. I think it’s a universal parent saying to finish all food on your plate no matter what. There was actually a professor from cornell who did a study that i think you would find interesting; as human beings we like to think that our body would tell us when we’ve had enough to eat. Apparently not this experiment actually shows that as long as there is food and we are told to eat it we would keep on going.
My mom use to always tell me “everything in moderation” and “alway stop eating when you feel full”. It’s just very tough to do when you see a big plate in front of you. This blog post really does open up the question of american eating habits and the harm it can have.
This is a very intriguing post. I’ve heard that the plate sizes have been increasing throughout time, and I knew there was solid proof because my grandparents have lived in the same house since they were 20 years old. They had to get specific sized plates because the average plates sold at normal stores would not fit in their counters anymore! I think a fantastic way to combat obesity is to trick the mind into thinking they are eating more than they actually are, because it is a simple way to get satisfied and lose weight at the same time. When you are buying your first set of plates for the future, always go for slightly smaller ones!