Why are US meal portions so big??

I've just returned from a holiday in California and was amazed at the portion sizes on all the meals I had when eating in restaurants.

It's to make up for the calorie labels they put on food in grocery stores. So far this week I've seen the nutritional content of a package of hot dogs expressed in "1/3 of a hot dog" serving size and hamburgers buns expressed in "2/5 of a bun" serving size.

What brands expressed serving sizes in those ludicrous servings?

I've just returned from a holiday in California and was amazed at the portion sizes on all the meals I had when eating in restaurants.

It's to make up for the calorie labels they put on food in grocery stores. So far this week I've seen the nutritional content of a package of hot dogs expressed in "1/3 of a hot dog" serving size and hamburgers buns expressed in "2/5 of a bun" serving size.

What brands expressed serving sizes in those ludicrous servings?

I've never seen this either.

I've just returned from a holiday in California and was amazed at the portion sizes on all the meals I had when eating in restaurants.

It's to make up for the calorie labels they put on food in grocery stores. So far this week I've seen the nutritional content of a package of hot dogs expressed in "1/3 of a hot dog" serving size and hamburgers buns expressed in "2/5 of a bun" serving size.

What brands expressed serving sizes in those ludicrous servings?

I've never seen this either.

I am calling shenanigans until the brands are named.

Gee, I think I'll go on vacation to Europe, expect everything to be exactly the same as it is in the US, and then get on the Internet and act surprised when that turns out not to be the case.

nationalistic thread is nationalistic.

i know it's popular in Europe to take potshots at the USA whenever and wherever possible, but just because you ate one meal in one restaurant and got a dumb explanation from one friend, does not mean that such an assertion (as found in your thread title) is universally true.

go to an expensive foo-foo restaurant in NYC and you'll find much smaller (and more expensive portions).

go to a pub in rural England and you'll find large portion sizes.

there is no government agency in either country that enforces a mandatory minimum portion size for restaurants. every restaurant and chef is different and has different standards.

That is a good point, oftentimes the more you pay, the less you get of a higher quality food. And then there are all you can eat buffets who charge $10/head for lower quality food in massive quantities.

i'll bet a Big Mac in the UK is exactly the same size as a Big Mac in the USA, but of course that'll just be dismissed as the exception that proves the rule... :facepalm:

Big Mac is not food your point is moot

Because she is one of my friends on here and was entirely unnecessary for you to talk trash about her picture because she posted a link to an article you disagreed with. How old are you, 13?

Dear MB

Actually I am on the same page with otterluv as regards the article. Again, if she is not offended why do you take offence on behalf of others,

Ummmm, I was full o'crap when I posted that. It was really just the most ridiculous thing that I could come up with, I didn't actually expect to be taken seriously.


ETA: I'm not a big believer in conspiracy theories. Like, at all.

It's not a conspiracy theory to say that fast food (aka JUNK food) contains nothing much that does the body good. You know about nutrition, so why is it that the High Streets are full of franchises for big fast food companies, why are they not full of green grocers and wholefood shops? By the way, you have some very loyal friends taking offence on your behalf, I hope I haven't offended you, I really am in awe of you.

Because she is one of my friends on here and was entirely unnecessary for you to talk trash about her picture because she posted a link to an article you disagreed with. How old are you, 13?

Dear MB

Actually I am on the same page with otterluv as regards the article. Again, if she is not offended why do you take offence on behalf of others,

Ummmm, I was full o'crap when I posted that. It was really just the most ridiculous thing that I could come up with, I didn't actually expect to be taken seriously.


ETA: I'm not a big believer in conspiracy theories. Like, at all.

It's not a conspiracy theory to say that fast food (aka JUNK food) contains nothing much that does the body good. You know about nutrition, so why is it that the High Streets are full of franchises for big fast food companies, why are they not full of green grocers and wholefood shops? By the way, you have some very loyal friends taking offence on your behalf, I hope I haven't offended you, I really am in awe of you.

Yes, I really do have some wonderful friends.

Because she is one of my friends on here and was entirely unnecessary for you to talk trash about her picture because she posted a link to an article you disagreed with. How old are you, 13?

Dear MB

Actually I am on the same page with otterluv as regards the article. Again, if she is not offended why do you take offence on behalf of others,

Ummmm, I was full o'crap when I posted that. It was really just the most ridiculous thing that I could come up with, I didn't actually expect to be taken seriously.


ETA: I'm not a big believer in conspiracy theories. Like, at all.

It's not a conspiracy theory to say that fast food (aka JUNK food) contains nothing much that does the body good. You know about nutrition, so why is it that the High Streets are full of franchises for big fast food companies, why are they not full of green grocers and wholefood shops? By the way, you have some very loyal friends taking offence on your behalf, I hope I haven't offended you, I really am in awe of you.

Otterluv has many friends defending her because she is chock full of AWESOMENESS. :drinker:

Maybe next time you are attempting to express awe with someone's accomplishments, you can refrain from using an insult and try using a compliment...perhaps we all won't get so confused by your reply.

Because she is one of my friends on here and was entirely unnecessary for you to talk trash about her picture because she posted a link to an article you disagreed with. How old are you, 13?

Dear MB

Actually I am on the same page with otterluv as regards the article. Again, if she is not offended why do you take offence on behalf of others,

Ummmm, I was full o'crap when I posted that. It was really just the most ridiculous thing that I could come up with, I didn't actually expect to be taken seriously.


ETA: I'm not a big believer in conspiracy theories. Like, at all.

It's not a conspiracy theory to say that fast food (aka JUNK food) contains nothing much that does the body good. You know about nutrition, so why is it that the High Streets are full of franchises for big fast food companies, why are they not full of green grocers and wholefood shops? By the way, you have some very loyal friends taking offence on your behalf, I hope I haven't offended you, I really am in awe of you.

Lol - argues its not a conspiracy theory by insinuating a conspiracy.

Also, Cr@p apology. Rude is rude. You had no idea how she was going to take it.

I miss the bigger portions in the US. I live in Canada and the portions are much smaller. I don't go out to eat as much anymore, because what is the point of paying a bunch of money for meal, only to be hungry when I leave. This is especially the case for my husband, a former football player who has a big appetite. I feel like I'm not getting value for my money with small portions. And no one said you had to eat it all. In the States, doggy bags are common. So you go out to eat and have lunch or a snack for tomorrow. I think only once have I had a doggy bag in a Toronto restaurant and that was because I wasn't very hungry. I have never been to Europe, but my husband's cousin visited us when we lived in NY from England and she was disturbed by the portions at IHOP, it turned her off and she left most of her food. We on the other hand ate our food and personally I didn't need to eat anything else until dinner.

i'll bet a Big Mac in the UK is exactly the same size as a Big Mac in the USA, but of course that'll just be dismissed as the exception that proves the rule... :facepalm:

Nope. US (and Canada) Big Macs have about 50 calories more than UK Big Macs, according to Mcdonald's website(s). Curiously, the UK Big Mac has twice(!) the sodium.

Clearly, the products are somewhat customized for local preferences.

Did you happen to pick up your souvenir bumper sticker while you were here? We have some really cool ones that say ,"Welcome to California...now go home."

It's a conspiracy by Big Pharm. They are in cahoots with the restaurant industry (and in effect, bit ag) to make us ever fatter, ensuring a continuous market for their products. Do we really believe that with all of the advancement in pharmaceuticals that there is no cure for obesity? It's not in their best interests to have a healthy public.

Here is a really good article:
http://bigthink.com/in-their-own-words/the-obesity-conspiracy

otterluv, you are awesome. love your bingo wings, X X X

You are well out of line. I don't actually know otterluv, but making disparaging comments about a person's appearance is as inappropriate and unwelcome here as it would be in person. Your rudeness is offensive.

I've just returned from a holiday in California and was amazed at the portion sizes on all the meals I had when eating in restaurants.

It's to make up for the calorie labels they put on food in grocery stores. So far this week I've seen the nutritional content of a package of hot dogs expressed in "1/3 of a hot dog" serving size and hamburgers buns expressed in "2/5 of a bun" serving size.

What brands expressed serving sizes in those ludicrous servings?

Don't remember the bun vendor, but the hot dogs were "Harvest Bavarian Sausages".

I'm assuming that they were one of those large ring sausages, correct? Yeah, a third of a sausage would be appropriate in that situation. And hot dog =/= sausage.

False. They contain carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. All of which does the body good. And often are garnished with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, etc.

Dear whierd, erm, I don't want to offend you (really I don't) but if you think a big mac and fries is good food, and you also think that fat people are greedy, well, I despair.
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Dear sparks, I could care less if I offend you, but I suggest taking a basic nutrition course if you think of foods in terms as simplistic as "good" and "bad".