As a dietitian I discuss with clients every day how restaurant portions are 2-3 times the amount we should be eating. But last week I was once again shocked.
While attending a conference in the Twin Cities, I went out to dinner at an Italian restaurant with friends and colleagues. The food was fantastic but when they came with my entree my eyes almost popped out of my head! Thinking I was being smart I had ordered a HALF portion of a very tasty basil chicken pasta dish. What I got was a bowl of pasta that contained almost as much as I would put in a serving bowl for my entire family of four! Just imagine what the FULL serving looked like!
My entree alone had to have at least 1200 calories and 10 carbohydrate servings. I had already sampled the appetizers, eaten my salad, and drank a glass of wine. So before even starting on the pasta I had probably enjoyed 700 calories. Needless to say I ate about a cup or so of the pasta before I was miserably stuffed and had to leave the rest.
What could possibly be a logical rationale for serving a HALF portion that large? I usually like getting the most for my money but in the case of food portions, if restaurants are not going to help us be realistic about portions we should have, then we are going to continue to struggle with the problems of obesity and diabetes. Studies have shown that the more food that is put in front of us the more we eat. I am no different than anyone else. If food that I like is staring me in the face it is very hard to not overeat.
I realize restaurants probably can't afford to lower prices but there has got to be a way to serve healthier sized portions and keep everyone happy. Had I been there before and known the portions were so large I think three of us would have split an entree. But then I always feel a little cheap. Since I was staying at a hotel I was not able to take my leftovers home for 2 more meals. What a waste of great food!
If you are trying to keep weight or diabetes under control and find yourself eating in restaurants regularly, have a plan. You will be shocked at the amount of calories in most foods and portions that you think are healthy. A great resource for managing restaurant meals is Dining Lean by Joanne V. Lichten, RD, PhD.
I would love to hear your stories, tips or thoughts about restaurant portions. Leave me your comments!
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