http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/articles/070711/11hunger.htm

Interesting that we just covered this (sort of).

Most people don't realize that actual dinner plates have gotten larger over the years.  The average dinner plate used to be only slightly larger than what we would consider a salad plate.  So when your parents were forced to "finish their plate" they probably had to eat less than your children will have to.

why is that?  it seems like it would be more cost effective to serve less?

Especially restaurants.  I won't eat a full meal at a restaurant anymore.  (more a sandwich shop kind of person, myself).

portions are getting bigger because food is getting cheaper, agricultural "factories" and economies of scale being the main reasons.

i remember 15 years ago and living on my own for the first time.  i was buying cans of soup for pretty much the same price.  you'd think inflation would've done something about that.

i'd bet that at restaurants, the cost of ingredients is the same percentage or even less despite the larger portions compared to many years ago.

"why is that?"

For homes, I don't know.

"it seems like it would be more cost effective to serve less?"

I remember a time when refills of pop in restaurants wasn't free -- now just about every restaurant has free refills.  It's simple economics: restaurants with free refills got more customers than those that didn't -- the cost of soft drinks is minimal.

The same argument goes for food: If you get a lot, you think you're getting a better deal than a place that gives you less.  What's the cost of a few more fries or a slightly larger portion?  Minimal.

I am a PE, economics kind of guy.  If I can find a cheap salad bar, $4-5, I will load up on a to-go plate and I figure I am bringing in $20 worth of stuff I can buy at the grocery store.

"The same argument goes for food: If you get a lot, you think you're getting a better deal than a place that gives you less.  What's the cost of a few more fries or a slightly larger portion?  Minimal."

Those criminals, so they bring in a bunch customers.  Make them fat and addicted.  I know the fastfood places are bad but at least the portions are somewhat smaller.  I think the Chilis, TGIFs, Longhorns are really bad.

"I know the fastfood places are bad but at least the portions are somewhat smaller."

The portions at McDonalds have inflated over the years as well..  I remember when a large drink was the same size as a medium is now, etc.

Bigger is better.  More is better.

"Bigger is better.  More is better."

How is it in Canada?  Is the the daily work lunch out with the coworkers the thing over there?  Mexican and Chinese places seem to be the IT lunch outing over here.  For some f**king reason.

Yeah, it's pretty much the same in Canada.

Although, I think, statistically we are thinner than Americans.

what are you folks talking about. the restaraunts i eat out at have tiny portions:

http://images.jupiterimages.com/common/detail/91/19/23501991.jpg

(it's at home where i double dose on the cereal.)

Hmmm.  I think I'll start a project of using my phonecam to record everything I eat over the next week.

And then post it on Flickr for everyone to criticize.

just had some Ethiopian food. it was not a lot of food. one (1) small (small!) chicken drumstick, one egg, some lentil and beef stuff, some lamb stuff.

one very large square plate (could barely get glasses on table).

split between two people. did i mention there was one small chicken leg?

"just had some Ethiopian food. it was not a lot of food"

Imagine that.

Ba-dum-chish.