Swelling Servings: The Growth of American Food Portions

SWELLING SERVINGS Waistlines and portions are expanding acróss America, An emphasis on getting more food for less money has caused restaurant and fast-food portions to grow over the last few decades. But the problem's not limited to out-of-home portions. Grocery store, vending machine, and snack-size offerings have The Growth of American Food Portions been increasing steadily as well. We take a closer look at how portions have grown and how we can regain control. CONSPIRING TO FEED US MORE As portions grow, so do American waistlines. A number of forces are conspiring to make us eat more. Packaged food companies are making portions larger, plates are getting bigger, and we're so surrounded by growing sizes that we don't know how much we really need to eat. WHY IS EATING MORE A PROBLEM? OBESITY PREVALENCE IN AMERICAN POPULATION BECAUSE OBESITY IS GROWING OVER TIME 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 0% 1960- 1962 1971- 1976 1988- 1999- 2001- 2003 2005 1974 1980 1994 2000 2002 2004 2006 THE EVER-EXPANDING PLATE On average, portion sizes have gotten a lot larger over the last few decades according to a study by the American Medical Association. The worst offenders are packaged foods like salty snacks, fruit drinks, and soft drinks. Manufacturers of these packaged goods are among the top conspirators making us fat. 199 az 16 oz 15.1 oz 1977 1996 11.3 oz 13.1 oz loz 34% 52% 60% FRUIT DRINKS SOFT DRINKS SALTY SNACKS CHANGE IN CHANGE IN CHANGE IN OUNCES OUNCES OUNCES PORTION SIZE AND HOW MUCH WE CONSUME So do bigger portions really make us eat more? Absolutely. Short-term studies show subjects consumed 30 percent more food when given a larger portion. 500g 335g PORTION CONSUMÉD 1,000g 434g PORTION CONSUMED BUT, EATING THE BIGGER PORTION LAND IF YOU ORDER THE LARGER PORTION REGULARLY WITH 8.3 BIGGER PORTIONS, YOU EAT MAKĖS YOU FEEL POUNDS AFTER ONE YEAR YOU'D BE 30% MORE. 0% FULLER. FATTER. WHAT'S A SERVING? GAIN CONTROL THE EASY WAY Overinflated portion sizes can make it difficult to understand There are subtle ways we can train ourselves to eat smaller portions. how much we're really meant to eat. The following are the USDA's recommended serving sizes. Making smarter decisions about portion size and eating habits can greatly impact a person's weight and overall health. EATING OUT 1 MEAT SERVING -> Split an entree with a friend or box up half the 1 DECK OF CARDS 3 OUNCES OF MEAT. FISH, OR POULTRY meal in a to-go container when it arrives. EATING IN 1 VEGETABLE SERVING Serve food on individual plates instead of 1 BAKED POTATO 1TENNIS BALL having serving dishes at the center of the table. LIMIT YOUR ACCESS 1 DAIRY SERVING Keep healthier foods in easy-to-access places, 14 OUNCES OF CHEESE A9-VOLT BATTERY and keep especially tempting foods out of sight. SOURCES: JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION; NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD INSTITUTE, NATIONAL INSTITUȚES OF HEALTH; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF. INFOGRAPHIC DESIGN BY COLUMN FIVE MASSIVE P HEALTH AGRICULTURE, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, MAYO CLINIC