Portion Size

So I've been trying to cut down my portion size and therefore training my stomach to shrink and/or be satisfied with less. We randomly hear the facts about how we eat so much more than our ancestors, and Americans especially. Now I'm a naturally slender person, so I'm not talking about going anorexic or anything, so chill. The truth still remains that we usually eat too much especially when eating out. Trust me, I love food and can probably keep up with the best of them. But I do hate the food-hangover afterwards. It tends to happen after a heavy dinner from places like Texas Road House, Olive Garden, and On the Border. I've learned to make healthier choices from those places or eat only half the plate and save the rest for lunch. We've heard these tips before, but maybe it reminds you to you to re-think your portion sizes the next time you sit down. Another good idea is to track your calories. This can be a pain to do especially when eating out, but I've used MyNetDiary in the past to track my calories consumed and calories burned. It has a huge database of all sorts of ingredients, common meals/snacks, and even restaurant entrees. Did I mention it's completely free? I challenge you to track your calories for a week and educate yourself on calories - see where you're gaining those extra pounds each week. Another helpful tip is to preview a restaurant's menu online and their nutritional values before you go. You might be surprised how many calories your 'usual' entree might be.

So this got me thinking further... what are the facts? "Researchers say we are getting so fat it could have the same impact as an extra billion people in the world." Whoa! I never thought of it like that before. In America alone, 22 million extra adults could be fed by what overweight people eat. 

Then vs. Now

                                        Then                                           Now
Pizza...............................500 cal.......................................850 cal
Coffee...............................45 cal............................... .......330 cal
Popcorn..........................270 cal.......................................630 cal
Bagel..............................140 cal.......................................350 cal
Cheeseburger.................333 cal.......................................590 cal
Soda.................................85 cal.......................................250 cal
French Fries...................210 cal.......................................610 cal

http://inyourface.blog.ocregister.com/2012/06/19/heres-how-much-we-overeat/87201/
http://www.divinecaroline.com/22175/49492-portion-size-vs-now
http://www.delish.com/food/recalls-reviews/portion-sizes-then-and-now-america-growing