4 ms·

Purely from my own viewpoint, the general size of U.S. restaurant portions in comparison with those in any other country I've visited is noticeably larger. Dish

Purely from my own viewpoint, the general size of U.S. restaurant portions in comparison with those in any other country I've visited is noticeably larger. Dishes are more likely to contain processed food products, less likely to contain fresh vegetables, and more likely to contain higher levels of sugars and salt. Again, just my own take. I found when working in Texas and the deep south that booking a room with a kitchen and then shopping for suitable groceries was essential in order to try to eat more sensibly. I'm not flaming anyone, just making an observation. A simple anecdote from a work stay in the Dallas area: several of us "foreigners" went out for dinner and had great difficulty finding a vegetable side dish on the menu. We ordered the broccoli for sharing, so were bemused that it arrived smothered in processed cheese.

gnarcoregrizz 5y ago
Well, Texas is home to some of most overweight cities in the US. However, I agree on all points. Portions are way too big at the majority of places around the US. I get portion anxiety when portions are too large, I feel like I have to eat it all and end up over eating and feeling ill. Places that don't supersize their portions are generally more expensive. Better off making food at home. People still complain about portions being too small at places with massive portions, restaurant owners feel pressure to keep them large.
eigenrick 5y ago
Demand and supply. Most Americans concept of "value" is not quality, it's quantity. Being unable to otherwise judge a thing on its merits, they take the bigger one. Not the one that is healthier, or more nutrient-dense. This, IMO, stems from the industrialization of our food supply. America came of age in post-WWII industrialization. Our food industry originally "began" because it was scaling to cheaply meet the food and logistics needs of a massive war. So Baby boomers (and therefore subsequent generations) learned to buy shitty, processed food "For America". Buying a box of mac and cheese isn't like picking out the best vegetables. All things being equal, you just get the biggest one for the price.
nradov 5y ago
One of my colleagues is a vegetarian. During a business trip to Dallas his associates took him out for dinner at a steakhouse. After reading through the menu he asked the waitress whether they had anything without meat and she cheerfully replied, "We have chicken!"

gnarcoregrizz 5y ago

Well, Texas is home to some of most overweight cities in the US. However, I agree on all points. Portions are way too big at the majority of places around the US. I get portion anxiety when portions are too large, I feel like I have to eat it all and end up over eating and feeling ill. Places that don't supersize their portions are generally more expensive. Better off making food at home. People still complain about portions being too small at places with massive portions, restaurant owners feel pressure to keep them large.

eigenrick 5y ago

Demand and supply. Most Americans concept of "value" is not quality, it's quantity. Being unable to otherwise judge a thing on its merits, they take the bigger one. Not the one that is healthier, or more nutrient-dense. This, IMO, stems from the industrialization of our food supply. America came of age in post-WWII industrialization. Our food industry originally "began" because it was scaling to cheaply meet the food and logistics needs of a massive war. So Baby boomers (and therefore subsequent generations) learned to buy shitty, processed food "For America". Buying a box of mac and cheese isn't like picking out the best vegetables. All things being equal, you just get the biggest one for the price.

nradov 5y ago

One of my colleagues is a vegetarian. During a business trip to Dallas his associates took him out for dinner at a steakhouse. After reading through the menu he asked the waitress whether they had anything without meat and she cheerfully replied, "We have chicken!"