4 ms·

But his question was "why in America?", why not anywhere else?

by nodata 12y ago

joesmo 12y ago
It's not only in America anymore. I've seen just as gigantic portion sizes while traveling to Europe (England, Netherlands, Romania, Italy, France) and Australia, though not so much in China (except Macau). Likely other countries are moving in the same direction as America. At restaurants, however, there is very good incentive to provide large portions. A restaurant has fixed portions that need to feed everyone from small children to gigantic football players. Without the large portions, many larger people would feel unsatisfied and not come back/give the restaurant a bad rating. Because costs are marginal it makes perfect sense that restaurants would have large portions. I've also noticed that there is a general fear of running out of food at social gatherings such as parties. Generally two to three times the amount is ordered. I'm sure this type of thinking is pretty common though this might be more of an American attitude (I don't really know).
- nightcracker 12y ago
  As a Dutchman I disagree. In general the portions here aren't large.
  - stinos 12y ago
    This. Have been in almost all countries in Europe and nowhere portions seemed to be as big as in the US on average, let alone you'd ever get absurd portions like sometimes in the US. Don't really know where the joesmo went.
- nodata 12y ago
  > England, Netherlands, Romania, Italy, France None of these places have anywhere near the same portion sizes.
  - contingencies 12y ago
    Agreed (haven't hit Italy yet, but the others ... 1 year, 2 months, 1 month, 3 months).
- mgkimsal 12y ago
  "a general fear of running out of food at social gatherings such as parties." I went to a social xmas party a few years back, and the rule was "you have to bring a dish to share". No one brings enough to just share with just one other person - everyone brings a dish/item that serves at least 4 people. We had a gathering of about 30 people and enough food to serve 150. They changed the rule the next year (I think that was the first and only year they tried that rule, IIRC).

But his question was "why in America?", why not anywhere else?

by nodata 12y ago

But his question was "why in America?", why not anywhere else?

It's not only in America anymore. I've seen just as gigantic portion sizes while traveling to Europe (England, Netherlands, Romania, Italy, France) and Australia, though not so much in China (except Macau). Likely other countries are moving in the same direction as America. At restaurants, however, there is very good incentive to provide large portions. A restaurant has fixed portions that need to feed everyone from small children to gigantic football players. Without the large portions, many larger people would feel unsatisfied and not come back/give the restaurant a bad rating. Because costs are marginal it makes perfect sense that restaurants would have large portions. I've also noticed that there is a general fear of running out of food at social gatherings such as parties. Generally two to three times the amount is ordered. I'm sure this type of thinking is pretty common though this might be more of an American attitude (I don't really know).

nightcracker 12y ago
As a Dutchman I disagree. In general the portions here aren't large.
- stinos 12y ago
  This. Have been in almost all countries in Europe and nowhere portions seemed to be as big as in the US on average, let alone you'd ever get absurd portions like sometimes in the US. Don't really know where the joesmo went.
nodata 12y ago
> England, Netherlands, Romania, Italy, France None of these places have anywhere near the same portion sizes.
- contingencies 12y ago
  Agreed (haven't hit Italy yet, but the others ... 1 year, 2 months, 1 month, 3 months).
mgkimsal 12y ago
"a general fear of running out of food at social gatherings such as parties." I went to a social xmas party a few years back, and the rule was "you have to bring a dish to share". No one brings enough to just share with just one other person - everyone brings a dish/item that serves at least 4 people. We had a gathering of about 30 people and enough food to serve 150. They changed the rule the next year (I think that was the first and only year they tried that rule, IIRC).