super sized

[Biciclista]

Just got back from California where it was warm enough that some of us wanted icecream. We went into an icecream joint and I asked for what I always asked for. A single scoop on a sugar cone. To my horror, she started making a grapefruit sized ball of ice cream to put on my cone. NO! i said, I want HALF that! she said, well, this is what you paid for. I continued pleading with her and finally she started to listen and gave me a more reasonably sized portion. Meanwhile, others in the party had ordered 2 scoops or 1 scoop and they were rewarded with immense amounts of icecream.
I was horrified. (and so were some of them)

The very next day we were in Old Folsom, at a really good candy/ice cream store. I saw they had a "child's cone" listed above the single and double scoops. That's what I ordered. It was the right size.

What do you guys do about the huge portions that we are served at food establishments?

[papaver]

I really dislike it. Whenever I visit the States it's exactly that what freaks me out. How can you enjoy your food like that? Small portions: more pleasure!

With huge portions like that you always eat too much. No wonder there is so much obesity in our Western world...

[Thorn]

Just read this....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/0..._n_183955.html

We are an obese nation. Sizes are large for large people; the portion sizes make people large....a vicious circle. I agree with you, request smaller portions....maybe, just maybe that small voice will be heard, but I doubt it.

[Grog]

What do you guys do about the huge portions that we are served at food establishments?

I sometimes ask for half the fries, for example. I get funny looks, so usually I preface my request with: "I know I paid for more, but I would like to have just..." and usually they are understanding. I do that for coffee, too. If I give them my travel mug, they fill it all. No way I'll drink all of that.

I almost never go to Starbucks but once or twice a year I'll end up getting something there. I ask for a "short." It's not on the menu but you can get it, and it's actually programmed in their cash register, for nearly all drinks (except the frozen ones). It's - to me - a "normal size" coffee, about 8 oz.

[Biciclista]

I almost never go to Starbucks but once or twice a year I'll end up getting something there. I ask for a "short." It's not on the menu but you can get it, and it's actually programmed in their cash register, for nearly all drinks (except the frozen ones). It's - to me - a "normal size" coffee, about 8 oz.

haha, me too. They ask me what size and I say "small" and they say you want a grande (or whatever) and I say, no I want a small one!

[Zen]

I ordered a small ice cream from McDonalds.and was told they only have one size.

I pinched off the top half of Mr.Softee and dropped it in the gutter (drive thru)

[Flybye]

I ordered a small ice cream from McDonalds.and was told they only have one size.

I pinched off the top half of Mr.Softee and dropped it in the gutter (drive thru)

That is great - I can almost hear the thought process in your head "you SAY you don't have a small - WELL TAKE THAT!!!"

It isn't like they CAN'T stop the ice cream machine to make a small, it is that they WON'T.

[Biciclista]

and honestly, in this profit driven economy; why are they giving us such huge portions?!??!

[Aggie_Ama]

I love this local burger place, the owners are always there but since I started losing weight I have very little appetite. They only offer a huge burger and for the price ($9 for burger/fries/drink) I can't stand to throw away half the burger. They won't sell kids burgers to adults so we stopped going because DH eats too much too much to split and they aren't something I will eat re-heated. They lost regular customers over it.

If we go somewhere I always order a half or child's portion or get a to go box. I can't eat that much, I don't need that much and I don't like throwing away perfectly good food.

[OakLeaf]

I confess, I eat too much. So I'm not often in that situation. (But since my weight's stable and within 5# of what I'd like it to be, I don't stress about it too much.)

I don't eat fast food. And I don't do well with anything frozen, so melting ice cream isn't an issue. (Chinese medicine has an explanation for that, but I don't know the details.)

But, among non-frozen things, IMO if it's not good enough to take some of it home, it's not good enough to order in the first place. So it's only usually an issue when we're traveling and don't have a refrigerator or microwave in the room.

DH and I were eating "tapas" before tapas was fashionable. A salad each and three appetizers to share is usually plenty (more appetizers if we're not each getting a salad). Besides, even in the best restaurants, the chefs usually give more attention to appetizers than entrees. So we get the best they have to offer. In a chain restaurant, a salad bar plus an appetizer is plenty.

I did do exactly the same as you, Mimi, recently when I got some movie popcorn. I tend to snack mindlessly at the movies. I ordered a "small" popcorn, looking at the display bags, but it turned out that the size I wanted was "child." The "small" one I'd actually ordered and paid for was ginormous. So I made the worker pour half of it out.

[Triskeliongirl]

My husband and I often just split something. If one entre isn't quite enough to split, we'll order one appetizer and one entre and split them both and it usually plenty of food. Or, I will order an appetizer instead of an entre. Or, we take home leftovers and get another meal out of it.

[Karma007]

Thanks for bringing this up, and I'll try not to rant, but it is a major irritation. I have a fierce sweet tooth with a special affection for anything frosted. If served a large piece of cake, or an entire cake, I will eat it. Last weekend, I wanted cake. Just one, normal sized piece. Not to be had; not at the grocery, or local restaurants. PF Changs would only offer a pice the size of your head (granted, they had the little bite sized parfaits, but doggonit, I wanted cake). It's really insane.

We like to eat out as well, and I avoid bringing leftovers home; I only need the fat and calories at one sitting. Have you noticed too the garbage they put on kids menus? Like you go to a decent restaurant and in attempts to order smaller, view the kids menu. Unless you want a grilled cheese or hot dog, forget it. Okay. that's more than 2 cents...

[GLC1968]

The worst part about all this is that 90% (or greater) of the US population LOVES that they get huge portions. "Oh, think of the value I'm getting"...not even questioning WHY these food places can afford to give you huge portions. It's because the food is so damn cheap to make. That's what industrializing the food chain, feed lots and HFCS has done for us. Food is so cheap that we've gotten used to huge portions and now expect it. It's sad really.

Though, I do admit that I like the free refill feature on soda machines. I only drink diet (and only when eating out as a 'treat')...but I'm a thirsty person, so I am happy to see unlimited liquids at my disposal.

[7rider]

What do you guys do about the huge portions that we are served at food establishments?

On those rare occasions when we get ice cream, I try to order "child size" cones as a matter of course. I figure, ice cream is a treat....I don't want to blow a whole day's worth of calories on it! (and no, I am by no means an obsessive calorie counter)

To me, large portions at restaurants are just lunch the next day.....

[shootingstar]

The worst part about all this is that 90% (or greater) of the US population LOVES that they get huge portions. "Oh, think of the value I'm getting"...not even questioning WHY these food places can afford to give you huge portions. It's because the food is so damn cheap to make. That's what industrializing the food chain, feed lots and HFCS has done for us. Food is so cheap that we've gotten used to huge portions and now expect it. It's sad really.

Though, I do admit that I like the free refill feature on soda machines. I only drink diet (and only when eating out as a 'treat')...but I'm a thirsty person, so I am happy to see unlimited liquids at my disposal.

Supersizing of food is highly noticeable whenever we travel to the U.S. When my partner when cycling with another guy across 1/2 of the length of the U.S., a few years ago, they were both shocked to be in a place somewhere in the northern Midwest (Idaho or Montana) where 90% of the diners were significantly obese.

Biclista, the large ice cream portions at the chain, Cold Stone Creamery, just floors us whenever we go to Seattle. In Vancouver, BC you would pay the same price but get approx. 50-70% of the Seattle ice cream portions...of course, we tend to go for gelato here, which isn't as creamy but stronger in flavour.

If I allow myself to eat supersized meal without planning for it in advance, then I do adjust my next meal to smaller size accordingly.. or have nothing. Not a good thing, but the tummy is still stretched hrs. later.

Unfortunately my love of coffee is such that I often do have a "tall" size if going to Starbuck's. No sugar, please. And no lattes from there....better elsewhere to get a latte at a cheaper price and without the syrup injections, etc.

Do I ask for a smaller size? I must admit no. But will ask server in advance on approx. serving size if the dish looks abit expensive/rich in taste/calories, etc. If it's seafood/veggies and not deep fried, I will eat alot of it. But then I just order 1 dish if it ends up big, with a juice or coffee, no appetizer nor dessert.

In the Greater Vancouver area there are some great Chinese restaurants (where portions in Chinese restaurants, do look supersized no matter which country you are in but dish is meant to be shared) , but I have resigned myself if I'm just going out to a Chinese restaurant with my dearie, I aim for a medium sized soup broth with noodles, veggies, sometimes meat, etc. with some dim sum on the side.

It's a tough one for me, because there are some fantastic restaurant (authentic) Chinese dishes that I would love to have (and Vancouver is rated top by Chinese-North Americans for authentic, good tasting food)...but I'm not keen on microwaving leftover stir-fried food the next day. So I always welcome going with a crowd of people to share the goodies at such establishments.