Why do most fastfood items have less calories internaionally?

Thanks everyone for answering I bet it is the portion size or a different ingredients. It is pretty funny still But yeah it is sad how big the portions are in the U.S. I lived there for 21 years and now I've been here in the Netherlands for 2 in a half years so I really see the difference!! In America when you go out to eat anywhere, they give you so much food that your totally stuffed and can't finish everything. A lot of people in America including the old me love the feeling of being stuffed and they don't want less food. In Europe, the restaurants give you a lot less food so that you aren't stuffed or full, but your satisfied. It's not normal here to be stuffed of very full after a meal and a lot of people here don't like that feeling. Pretty funny and a different change when I first came here. But it has helped me a lot since I'm losing weight. Me and my husband went to America in October and it was a total shock since I wasn't back home in 2 in a half years. It's a guilty pleasure of me to admit, but I loved the huge over sized portion sizes I mean I grew up eating such huge portions and I've been losing weight for a long time, so it was a wonderful treat to just let myself go a bit. It didn't hurt me too much since we were only on vacation for 2 weeks. I did notice a huge change in myself though. Before I could clean off my plate no problem. Now this time, I couldn't finish everything all the time ha ha. But yeah it was a wonderful experience short term, it would be a huge problem long-term to always eat like that. The smartest thing would be to set half aside for later, but unfortunately not everyone does that With everything larger than life and giving huger portions than we ever need, I can see how so many people are overweight or obese. Especially since we don't exercise enough. It really is a shame.

segacs wrote: »

jenniator wrote: »

In Europe, the restaurants give you a lot less food so that you aren't stuffed or full, but your satisfied. It's not normal here to be stuffed of very full after a meal and a lot of people here don't like that feeling.

Because I'm very small (5'1" / 106lbs), to me, portion sizes everywhere are far too big. In the US, they're excessively too big, but even here in Canada or in Europe or elsewhere, they're still too big for me if they're meant for a normal sized person.

I've just gotten very comfortable ordering smaller snack-sized portions, sharing food, taking half home, or simply sending the rest back uneaten. It's waste food either way; better in the trash than on my hips.

The biggest weight loss learning for me has been that, even at maintenance, I can't go to a restaurant and "clean my plate" without gaining. Those portions are meant for average-sized men, not below-average sized women.

That's very true It's unfortunately if your smaller. I'm 5'5, so I'm able to eat more. But yeah the portions in the U.S. are excessively too big!! I can see how the portions would be too big for you even in Canada or Europe. You really have to be careful what you eat being smaller since it's so easy to gain weight eating foods that are larger portion and meant for taller people. It is better to waste food than to force yourself to eat it and gain weight. Me personally, I love that in the U.S. the portions are so excessive since I love bringing leftovers home and eating it later that night or the next day I think you wouldn't feel uncomfortable bringing home portions or sharing with someone I see plenty of people do that! It's also cheaper since if you take food home, it lasts a lot longer than eating it all in one sitting.