Are portion sizes getting bigger?

Analyzing data from three national surveys involving more than 60,000 Americans, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that serving sizes have grown over the past 20 years, not only at fast-food places, but at other restaurants and even in homes.

Why are portion sizes becoming bigger?

The trend toward larger portion sizes has occurred in parallel with other increases—in the availability of energy in the US food supply, in dietary intake of energy, and in the prevalence of overweight and obesity.

Are dinner plates getting bigger?

What is this? Since the early 1900s, the size of a normal American dinner plate has become at least 25% larger. In the 1960s, plates were roughly 9 inches in diameter. In the 1980s, they grew to around 10 inches.

Why are serving size changing?

Some of the requirements for serving sizes have changed on the new Nutrition Facts label. By law, serving sizes must be based on the amount of food people typically consume, rather than how much they should consume. Serving sizes have been updated to reflect the amount people typically eat and drink today.

Are portion sizes too big?

Increased portion sizes are thought to contribute to overeating and unwanted weight gain ( 1 ). Research indicates that many factors can influence how much you eat. People tend to eat almost all of what they serve themselves. Therefore, controlling portion sizes can help prevent overindulging ( 2 ).

Meal Sizes Getting Bigger? Watch Your Portions!

Why are American portions so big?

Farmers were able to grow food more cheaply by using fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides. In the 1970s, the government began subsidizing farmers to grow more food. Over time, companies have increased their serving sizes to increase their profits, and we all caught on.

What is a normal portion size?

1 1/2 - 2 1/2 cups of fruit and 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 cups of vegetables. 6-10 ounces of grain, 1/2 from whole grains. 3 cups of nonfat or low-fat dairy foods. 5-7 ounces of protein (meat, beans, and seafood) each day.

What is the 5/20 rule?

Though not an end-all test, a quick way to read the percent daily values is to use the 5/20 rule. This says that if the %DV is less than 5% there is a low amount of this nutrient, while if the %DV is greater than 20% there is a high amount of this nutrient.

Why are food portions getting smaller?

All over the world, food packages are indeed shrinking. The latest statistics show that anywhere from 15 to 20 percent of all packaged foods have shrunk in the last five years. It's a way for food companies to off set their cost during an inflation surge like we're seeing today.

How have portion sizes changed recently?

The data revealed that over the past 20 years: Hamburgers have expanded by 23 percent; A plate of Mexican food is 27 percent bigger; Soft drinks have increased in size by 52 percent; Snacks, whether they be potato chips, pretzels or crackers, are 60 percent larger.

What has happened to serving sizes when dining out over the years?

In fact, since the 1970s the average size of foods from fast-food chains, restaurants and grocery stores has increased by 138%. Of course, with increased portion sizing comes increased caloric intake. Since these increases happen slowly over time, it's hard to notice it happening.

Why are portions so small?

To maintain the high-standard and keeping the niche crowd in mind, the luxury restaurants source the ingredients from various places that increases the production cost of the dish and as a result, it also affects the end price of the dish. So, to make the dish affordable, they are served in small portions.

What is a normal size dinner plate?

What size are most dinner plates? Traditionally, a standard dinner plate has always had a diameter of 10.5 inches. In recent years, however, increasing numbers of restaurants have chosen to use larger 11 or 12 inch plates.

How many calories did people eat in 1970?

Over the last twenty years, the American diet has changed dramatically both in terms of the quantity and quality of our food intake. In 1970, Americans took in an average of 2,160 calories per day. Today, it has skyrocketed to 2,673 daily calories per person.

Do Americans have bigger portion sizes?

In the U.S. our servings or quantity of food is much larger than in other countries like Europe or Asia.

Are serving sizes realistic?

The serving sizes listed on the Nutrition Facts label are not recommended serving sizes. By law, serving sizes must be based on how much food people actually consume, and not on what they should eat.

Are grocery items getting smaller?

"Shrinkflation," or package downsizing, has been a standard practice in the food industry for decades. Companies reduce items in size or quantity while keeping prices the same. Shoppers across the US have recently reported smaller sizes for toilet paper, cookies, chips and other common grocery products.

Are restaurant portions getting smaller?

It's not just a figment of your imagination — portions at US restaurants are indeed getting smaller. Call it shrinkflation: when sizes shrink, but you're paying the same price, or sometimes even more, for the meal or product.

Why did Mcdonald's get rid of small sizes?

The hamburger giant has started phasing out its trademark Supersize fries and drinks in its U.S. restaurants as part of an effort to simplify its menu and give customers choices that support “a balanced lifestyle,” a company spokesman said Tuesday.

Do nutrition labels lie?

Labels provide a number that likely overestimates the calories available in unprocessed foods. Food labels ignore the costs of the digestive process – losses to bacteria and energy spent digesting. The costs are lower for processed items, so the amount of overestimation on their labels is less.

What's considered a whole food?

Simply put, whole foods are foods that are either not processed at all, or processed minimally. Examples include whole grains, legumes, fresh fruits and vegetables. Think foods that don't need labels listing a million different unpronounceable ingredients.

What are some foods that have empty calories?

How can I train my stomach to eat less?

Eat several small meals per day instead of larger ones.

This can “train” your stomach over time to increase feelings of satisfaction and fullness with smaller meals. This habit will also help keep your blood sugar levels steady, reducing strong cravings for sweets or carbohydrates. Drink water before you eat a meal.

What does the average teenager eat in a day?

What to Eat. Most teens need five to ten servings of grains or starchy foods per day, two to three servings of fruit, three to five servings of meat or other protein-rich foods, two to three servings of vegetables, four to five servings of dairy and two to four servings of fat each day.

Does cutting portion sizes work?

Cutting your portions reduces the amount of calories you consume. Eating fewer calories results in faster weight loss than exercise or physical activity alone. This doesn't mean you should stop working out, but if you want to drop some pounds, start by controlling your portion sizes.