Size Matters

15 March 2013, by gj

100 years apart

While putting away the china I inherited from my Grandmother over the holidays a few months ago, I happened to notice the difference in the size of the dishes from her day to ours.

If you look at the picture above, it may seem like the yellow dinner plate with the china plate sitting on top of it are about the same size. Likewise the two bowls and two sandwich plates. If you closer you might see the difference in the actual area allowed for putting your food.

The china dinner plate has a 6.5 inch diameter serving area, where the fiestaware plate has 9 inches. The sandwich plates likewise vary from 4 inches to 5.5 inches.

The china bowl has a 1 cup capacity. The fiestaware? Double that.

Now this has nothing to do with gardening, but has everything to do with your health; something most of you are also concerned with.

It’s no wonder there is a weight problem in this country, as we become increasingly removed form how much we actually should be eating. Portions in restaurants are more than enough for two people, not just one. If you think ‘Supersize it’ is an effort to save you money, it’s not. Think about it- the restaurant is already paying the overhead bills, the more food they can sell you the higher the profit they’ll make.

Think of a restaurant serving, and now picture the Recommended Daily Allowance for a meal instead:
3 pounces protein, or less than 1/2 cup
4 oz. each fruit and/or vegetables, or 1/2 cup each

Here’s how you can save money and lose weight at the same time. Don’t serve or eat meals like a restaurant would, downsize to the right amount.
Of course I would add that when it comes to veggies, have at it.
Check out this great link that does some portion size comparisons.

Categories: fast food, saving money & time, you are what you eat

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