Originally Posted By: jaj
The articles are interesting and clearly well-meaning, but it's not clear whether they're particularly helpful.
One of the biggest challenges in North American eating is the "more is better" messaging that permeates marketing and advertising messages. A 6 ounce steak is all most people who work indoors at a desk actually need to feel full. If you eat slowly and have some vegetables and a little high quality carbohydrate (yam fries, potato with skin, brown rice, etc) with it, you're just fine. The problem is that most restaurant steaks start at 12 ounces (maybe an 8 or 10 "for the smaller appetite") and go up from there. This makes it almost impossible not to overeat when you're out, and it's hard to stop when you're home.
Not really. All it takes is some self control or forethought. Either get a takeout box right away and take half your dining out meal and put it in the box, or split a plate with someone.
Since I've started my weight loss quest, I've lost over 30 pounds in just over 60 days. What am I doing? Watching my portions.
My wife and split portions, or if we want something different, we put 1/2 in the takeout box and set it aside.
Originally Posted By: jaj
I saw an article recently that said that since the early 1900's, the "dinner plate" has nearly doubled in size measured in square inches.
The other factor is cost. In the fast and packaged food world, carbohydrates dominate because they are cheap to produce and generally taste good. In order to feed the masses they've become a major source of our daily intake.
It's just as easy to stop in a grocery store and buy fresh fruit and vegetables. You can get a fruit container and/or a veggie container, pay no more than you would for a fast food meal in terms of both time and money.
Sure, it's more costly for the vegetables, but if quick is what you want, then there are choices for those who take 5 minutes and do some research.
Originally Posted By: jaj
Next time you have a fast food burger meal, stop before you start eating and just look at what's in front of you: most of what you see is sugar: it's mixed into the bread dough, it's the main component of the drink, some restaurants blend it into the french fries, and the condiments are loaded with it. With the exception of the protein, the whole meal is basically flavored and colored sugar. And some places even use sugar in the patties to make them brown nicely.
Good nutrition starts with variety and quality. It's tough to find.
It's not tough to find. It's tough to change the habit. If you decide you are not going to eat fast food, or that you will limit it, you can find better choices.
I ate at a restaurant yesterday and had a Buffalo Chicken sandwich. Of course I asked for it grilled, not fried. (No breading, a lot less oil.) Instead of cheese I asked for extra red onion. I kept the chibatta bun and the hot sauce. Instead of fries I had the green beans, but could have chosen a salad. I probably should have, my co-worker had a salad with his burger and it looked pretty good.
I think my lunch was about 300 calories with an unsweetened iced tea.
Add the fries and fry the chicken instead of grilling it and I bet the calorie count doubles.
It's what you chose, and if one educates themselves, they can make better choices.
