Why America is so obese, my dinner out...

FitJoani

I went out to dinner yesterday and saw the menu offered half portions so I opted for it as well as the whole wheat option(it was italian) but Im thinking I will get a kiddie like portion of pasta and I was wrong. I got a 9in soup plate full and took it home. I practiced the japanese philosophy of hara harci bu(sp?) to eat until you are 80% full. Its what I have been trying to do, and its been working. I also had the discussion with my dad that if the average person went out to a rest and saw a plate put in front of them with proper portions of everything they ordered they would freak out, and call the rest cheap. My dad and I(hes also on a wt loss plan, I may sign him up here) uxsed to be able to order a HUMUNGO appetizer, our enourmous out of control dinners, all the bread they can give us, calorie ridden drinks be it huge sugar laden margaritas or pitchers of soda, then polish it all off with a big dessert. Now we mainly from watching the biggest loser have learned that if faced with going out, there is no appetizer ordered. there is no dessert EVER ordered. Water is the beverage of choice(or maybe diet coke on occasion) and lean protien with salad as a side-no dressing or a vinagarette dressing and not gorge ourselves on the meal. We feel better and know its better for us:drinker:

Georg

I'm totally in agreement with you!
To add to your soap box -
when you drive around, watch & see how many people are eating & drinking while driving in their cars. In Europe you never see anyone eating in the car!

vraehn

I love the size of the portions they put before us when we eat out. We ate at a Thai resturant and had enough left over for the next day--no cooking for 2 meals! The key is as you said, Eat a reasonable portion and ask for a box. :laugh: :happy: :flowerforyou:

lisawest

One of my personal favorites, is to get the "Ultimate Sampler" at Italian restaraunts. I then eat 1 of the 4 items on my plate, take home the other 3, and have lunches! This was especially helpful when we were watching our wallets, and went to the "kids eat free" days. Thus getting 5 meals (my 4 + a kid's) for less than $2 each. Ok, not the HEALTHIEST option, but pretty good for a restaraun!

stef_e_b

When I go out on dates with my boyfriend we just share. Theres more than enough food and it cuts our bill in half.

amandadaisylotus

My goodness, the portions sizes are ridiculous at Italian restaurants. Mostly because PASTA IS CHEEEEEAAAAAAP. They can afford to give you 6 oz of pasta (vs the 1 oz serving size) and some sauce. Costs them about 50 cents in food costs... you pay 12.99!

A good thing that I've found, while its kind of annoying and I feel a little bad asking sometimes, I've started asking the waiter to ask the cooks what the weight of everything on my plate is. (8 oz of chicken is the most common size I've found.) The cooks ALWAYS know (bug them until they answer you, they KNOW) because all restaurants have guidelines they follow for their meals (so all those restaurants that say, "Oh everything is fresh made so we can't post calories because it can vary can stuff it. It may vary, but probably only 10-50 calories. I'd rather have a rough estimate than none at all).

Then immediately ask for a box. If I don't, I'll eat everything on my plate :blushing: old habits are hard to break and I had a lifetime of, "You'd better finish everything on your plate or you're not getting our money's worth!"

FitJoani

My goodness, the portions sizes are ridiculous at Italian restaurants. Mostly because PASTA IS CHEEEEEAAAAAAP. They can afford to give you 6 oz of pasta (vs the 1 oz serving size) and some sauce. Costs them about 50 cents in food costs... you pay 12.99!

A good thing that I've found, while its kind of annoying and I feel a little bad asking sometimes, I've started asking the waiter to ask the cooks what the weight of everything on my plate is. (8 oz of chicken is the most common size I've found.) The cooks ALWAYS know (bug them until they answer you, they KNOW) because all restaurants have guidelines they follow for their meals (so all those restaurants that say, "Oh everything is fresh made so we can't post calories because it can vary can stuff it. It may vary, but probably only 10-50 calories. I'd rather have a rough estimate than none at all).

Then immediately ask for a box. If I don't, I'll eat everything on my plate :blushing: old habits are hard to break and I had a lifetime of, "You'd better finish everything on your plate or you're not getting our money's worth!"

I have the advantage of KNOWING how bad and caloric the stuff is ahead of time. I am a chef and I know all to well what goes into alot of it and its shocking to watch people shovel it in like animals!!!