Are US restaurants catering to our obesity problems!

[CheshireVal]

Here's another perspective:

My DH is an Aussie, and when I went to Australia a few years ago, I was chagrined to find out that I couldn't get free refills of my Diet Coke and that portion sizes seemed to be a little smaller....

.... however, Australia is now the second fattest nation behind the US.

I think sedentary lifestyles are just as much of a "fat factor" as large portions.

I really think it's all about personal responsibility and accountability. Exercise your *own* portion control-- don't expect restaurants to have to do it for you!

And.... eat less, move more!

 

[blueroses]

Rhetorical question:
Does anyone think there's a viable market for a sit-down restaurant that includes "healthy portion sizes" or "your choice of portion sizes: half or whole?" I mean, Subway seems to be succeeding with the low-fat and weight management approach to its marketing.

I wish. Economically I don't know how it would pan out though. Restaurants are very low margin (which is why so many of them fail) and the food costs are not anywhere near the biggest costs they have (rent and wages are). This is why a restaurant can serve a huge portion while only marginally increasing its menu prices and still be solvent. So you would have to convince consumers to pay nearly as much for their smaller portion as they would for the larger portion. Are people willing to do that? Maybe. But the number of people on the dining plan thread who are trying to squeeze every last penny out of Disney for their $37.99 tells me otherwise.

 

[jmsvss]

I agree with the posters that likened our country's weight problem to the issues brought up in the tobacco industry law suits. The problems brought on by obesity are arguably greater than those brought on by tobacco abuse. As such, it goes beyond individual choices when the society as a whole is made to suffer. Change starts with individual choices but I think the problem is so great at this point that more intervention is needed - I'm not talking about scales in Olive Garden Restaurants. For example, all soda and candy vending machines have been removed from our local high school. The school district struggled with this decision for years because they received a sizeable profit share from Coca-Cola. Healthier snack and drink alternatives are offered now. I've lived in Japan and Korea. The individual soda cans are about half the size of our cans and I don't recall ever seeing a 2 liter bottle.

And then there are the additives, perservatives and flavor enhancers. I work with poor, medically uninsured people. It is hard to explain why organic products, fresh vegetables or lean fish and meats that costs 2 and 3 times the amount of prepared, canned pasta or Spam are better for them. They are going to buy what they think they can afford. These are things that can be changed without infringing on a persons individual right to choose.

As far as the Disney eating options are concerned I think healthy choices are available. And the exercise is unavoidable

 

[scubamouse]

I really think a ton of it has to do with passive exercise.

When I lived in NYC I had to walk about 2 miles a day as part of my total commute. When I moved to DC, I was driving everyday and not getting that 'exercise' I had been getting w/o trying. Even though my diet hadn't changed, I gained some weight w/in 6 mos of being in DC that was tough to take off until I moved back to NY and was walking a lot again.

Look at people in Europe, they eat plenty but the differences are not overeating and not driving absolutely everywhere. The US is now just a series of housing developments and shopping areas with very little walking for errands involved.

Food is a big culprit but as a nation we just don't move enough!

 

[toto2]

Does anyone else find it ironic that, in general (and in the US) the more you pay for your food, the smaller the portions? Think about the last high end restaurant you visited.

Usually it is becaus esomebody really does prepare it in a kitchen , and the product are of first rate quality and freshness. You can make masched potato with water and potato flakes or you can make it wit fresh potato , cream , butter and real spices. You have to pay for quality. Mc Donalds fries are rigt now under attack because part of the flavors they had come from milk product , and they put stuff to keep them fresh. Now , If I peel my potato , fry it in good quality oil and put some nice sea salt from Normandie , first I will go crazy with joy , but my fry will more expensive than from the devils arches !

 

[toto2]

Look at people in Europe, they eat plenty but the differences are not overeating and not driving absolutely everywhere. The US is now just a series of housing developments and shopping areas with very little walking for errands involved.

Food is a big culprit but as a nation we just don't move enough!

True m but they do eat healthier. In France , almost everybody shops for food everyday at the farmers market. The supermarketexist but it is a joy to see the quality of the stuff. Fast food joints do exist , but people dont eat there everyday at lunch. The eat way less process foods than we do in North America

And they drink faboulos red wine almost everyday with there meal , wich is very good for the heart !

 

[punkin]

Usually it is becaus esomebody really does prepare it in a kitchen , and the product are of first rate quality and freshness. You can make masched potato with water and potato flakes or you can make it wit fresh potato , cream , butter and real spices. You have to pay for quality. Mc Donalds fries are rigt now under attack because part of the flavors they had come from milk product , and they put stuff to keep them fresh. Now , If I peel my potato , fry it in good quality oil and put some nice sea salt from Normandie , first I will go crazy with joy , but my fry will more expensive than from the devils arches !

I have also noticed that this is why the meals I make at home from scratch are more expensive. I use good fresh ingredients and that costs money. Over on the budget board there is a thread about quick low-cost meals and every other recipe posted has a can of cream of something soup in it or jarred sauce of some kind. What kind of junk is that to be putting into a so-called homemade meal?

 

[lulugirl]

If you don't want to be obese follow this simple rule:
Move more, eat less.
Restaurants decide how much they serve, NOT how much you consume.

 

[eyeoreismyhero]

If you don't want to be obese follow this simple rule:
Move more, eat less.
Restaurants decide how much they serve, NOT how much you consume.

Thats all well and good to say, but its not happening. Just go out in public and look around at the people. You also can't say it doesn't effect you, but if you have to pay any part of you own health insurance costs it does.

 

[In a hurry]

If you don't want to be obese follow this simple rule:
Move more, eat less.
Restaurants decide how much they serve, NOT how much you consume.

You are right...however, I think that the large portions that are consistently served have changed the view of an appropriate serving size. Not a good thing, IMO. If you try to tell people that a 4 oz piece of meat is a serving size, and show them what it looks like...they will act like you are nuts!

You should see the lunches kids bring to school and eat. A whole sandwich, a whole bag of chips, cookies, and juice. That is enough calories to sustain a 44 year old woman! Their parents have been raised to believe these are appropriate portions, and ingredients.

 

[Planogirl]

I still don't see anyone stating who is supposed to take control of this situation and what can be done. You can mandate that restaurants decrease portion sizes but what about buffets? These typically offer both healthy and unhealthy choices and there are no controls on how much a person is allowed to eat.

 

[lulugirl]

Thats all well and good to say, but its not happening. Just go out in public and look around at the people. You also can't say it doesn't effect you, but if you have to pay any part of you own health insurance costs it does.

Actually I never suggested that I wasn't affected by the obesity problem in the US.
While I agree that some restaurant portions are absurdly large, we all have free will.....don't eat ALL of it. To suggest that restaurants have any responsiblity for our countries weight problem is absurd IMO.

 

[lulugirl]

You are right...however, I think that the large portions that are consistently served have changed the view of an appropriate serving size. Not a good thing, IMO. If you try to tell people that a 4 oz piece of meat is a serving size, and show them what it looks like...they will act like you are nuts!

You should see the lunches kids bring to school and eat. A whole sandwich, a whole bag of chips, cookies, and juice. That is enough calories to sustain a 44 year old woman! Their parents have been raised to believe these are appropriate portions, and ingredients.

You make an excellent point, I think most of us do have a skewed idea of what an appropiate portion size is.

 

[cardaway]

Should junk food places be responsible like cigarette companies... good question, I can certainly see things getting to the point where something has to be done.

My first thought though is allow the health insurance companies to make some decisions on what and who they will not cover.

 

[In a hurry]

Should junk food places be responsible like cigarette companies... good question, I can certainly see things getting to the point where something has to be done.

My first thought though is allow the health insurance companies to make some decisions on what and who they will not cover.

I don't think it could work in the same manner, because food is not considered addictive (obviously not a ruling based on my feelings toward thin-mint cookies!). Now liquor stores...

 

[cardaway]

I don't think it could work in the same manner, because food is not considered addictive...

I think there are some treatment centers that would disagree with that.

Now liquor stores...

Another topic, probably a heated one.

 

[toto2]

I have also noticed that this is why the meals I make at home from scratch are more expensive. I use good fresh ingredients and that costs money. Over on the budget board there is a thread about quick low-cost meals and every other recipe posted has a can of cream of something soup in it or jarred sauce of some kind. What kind of junk is that to be putting into a so-called homemade meal?

I realise that there is need for convevience when cooking , but right now it is possible to have the convienience witout the junk. You have ready made organic soup , instant oatmeal without additive and sugar etc.

And another thing that is important to realise , specialy in the USA where you have to pay for your healtcare , is that the money you spend on eating properly is still less than the health care cost when you turn diabetic or other obesity related illness. And I wont even start about the well being you will feel ! That has , for me , no price !

 

[In a hurry]

I think there are some treatment centers that would disagree with that.

True! But even most of them admit that a food addiction is different in nature. More difficult in some ways to deal with, because you cannot abstain from eating.

But the logistics would be impossible. Who do you sue, the farmers who grow the food, the middlemen wholesellers, the restaurants and groceries. Cigarette responsiblity went to the manufacturers/distributers, but not the places that sold them...too confusing for me.

Another topic, probably a heated one.

See, by my logic, it wouldn't be the stores either to follow the cigarette precedent.

I guess this one will take somemore thought!

Back to the drawing board!

 

[christym]

I still don't see anyone stating who is supposed to take control of this situation and what can be done. You can mandate that restaurants decrease portion sizes but what about buffets? These typically offer both healthy and unhealthy choices and there are no controls on how much a person is allowed to eat.

I think the key to solving the problem is education. There are to many people walking around who have no idea how their body functions and what it needs to be healthy (and this applies to more than just the area of food intake). If more people had good solid education on how your body works (or paid closer attention to all those "boring" science classes, especially biology and chemistry) more people would be healthier.

 

[In a hurry]

I think the key to solving the problem is education. There are to many people walking around who have no idea how their body functions and what it needs to be healthy (and this applies to more than just the area of food intake). If more people had good solid education on how your body works (or paid closer attention to all those "boring" science classes, especially biology and chemistry) more people would be healthier.

That would be logical, but I think that people are just not willing to postpone gratification (not eat what they want) and excorcise the way we should. So, I'm not sure how much education would help.

Aside from the fact that my 1st grade DD gets PE once a week! How can we educate when we put health at the bottom of our priority list?