In Excess of Portion
by: Sherri L Dodd
My husband and I recently visited a popular Chinese restaurant
chain. I must say that it is no wonder that this eatery is represented
by a rotund little bear. The rice alone equated to around four
to five servings…in one meal! This along with the other
generous rations left us both with a few thoughts on the lack
of self-control versus the available meal sizes in some of the
fast-er food eateries.
We cannot just blame the commercialized burger chains for promoting
obesity in the states. I shake my head in frustration when I see
this perfect example of the carbohydrate portion gone awry, followed
by the whining of diet gurus that revel in a major nutrient’s
supposed betrayal.
Giving the American consumer the benefit of the doubt, I will
bet that many of us do not know the actual size of a single serving
for the many different foods. Subsequently, there is a high propensity
to misjudge said portions, especially when they are so abundantly
given to you at no extra cost. While it is not necessary to break
out the measuring cups and spoons at the counter of your favorite
diner, there is a general rule of thumb about accurate sizing
of food. A couple examples are grains and veggies ranging from
½ cup to 1 cup per serving or cheese usually measuring
1 to 1½ ounces. For those who have difficulty remembering
these technical measurements, McKinley Health Center has a website
that features a clever rendition of accurately sizing up the nourishment
set before you at any dinner table. Portions are described in
the manner of the “size of 9-volt battery” or the
“size of a checkbook” instead of the textbook lingo
you may have learned in cooking class. You can enjoy more of these
silly comparisons at http://www.mckinley.uiuc.edu, click on Health
Information, Nutrition and then Making Sense of Serving Sizes.
Even armed with the knowledge of accurate portions, it will always
come down to your own degree of self-discipline. I am definitely
not a believer in suing successful corporations simply because
someone ate themselves into a miserably obese physical condition
or even an untimely heart attack. While it would be nice if we
were less enticed into over-eating, just like a lot of other areas
in life, we each have the power to choose, especially when it
comes down to just how much chow-mien to woof down during a road
trip’s meal-time interruption.
About The Author
Sherri Dodd is the creator and author of Mom Looks Great - The
Fitness Program for Moms. She is also an ACE-certified Personal
Trainer and Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant with
over fifteen years of exercise experience. She has lectured to
groups of 100+ people on her fitness plan and is a freelance writer
on the topics of fitness and general nutrition as well as the
humorous side of motherhood. momlooksgreat.com
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