Our lovely and "healthy" restaurant food

[nadinbrzezinski]

so I took care of nephews during the weekend, and we took them to Legoland... that is a whole different post. I took them home for breakfast on Saturday, as they are in the midst of a remodel... so my sister's kitchen is not in the best of shape.

The rest I took them out, see the remodel part.

So believe you me when I say that eating out should be a treat, not an everyday thing. I literally gained a pound and a half in two days... (ok parents were here for the whole last week). Never mind I watched what I ate.

So yes, I will stand by what I have said in the past. Our restaurants are part of the problem in our obesity crisis.

Ah back home, where I can truly watch what I eat... and I mean TRULY.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Kick and yes restaurants are PART of the problem

[medeak]

105. friend owned Marie Callendar's franchise

told us he was instructed to put sugar in EVERYTHING...not just pies.. as it makes clients addicted and they want to come back for the high. Must be reason my 93 yr old Dad won't eat anywhere else.

[nadinbrzezinski]

109. It is possible

sugar is highly addictive

[CoffeeCat]

147. This is what McDonald's does...

Remember that documentary made about the guy who ate nothing but McDonald's for a month? I believe
it was called "Supersize Me!".

He mentioned that sugar was in every ingredient on the menu. Even in the fries. He showed product literature
that backed up what he was saying.

Sure enough, I asked someone at McDs for their nutrition pamphlet and sugar was in everything! Even the salads!

The burgers also have some grams of sugar.

It really is sickening.

No wonder the star in that documentary looked like total shit and went downhill during that month. He deteriorated, but
he only felt better after he ate McDonald's again. Then he would crash and only feel better after eating it again.

There's something in that food besides the sugar. Nasty!

[nadinbrzezinski]

150. I am staring the end of overeating by Kessler

tonight.

Relevant to this topic. I listened to several interviews and had put the book on the must read list.

His biochemistry also became very scary. I remember them stopping on day 25 since it was getting dangerous.

[medeak]

164. yes...he said they put sugar in the salad bar

every fecking thing!

[closeupready]

2. I'm sorry - I do not understand what your opening post is saying.

Can you rephrase? Thanks.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. That our restaurant food, no matter how hard you try to be wise and make wise choices

is not healthy...

part of the problem is portion size.

Part of the problem are the methods of preparation.

But our restaurant industry does have some of the blame in our obesity epidemic. And yes, partly the consumer. It is all who are...

Now on the bright side, our restaurants NOW have to provide nutrition data. That helps.

[NeedleCast]

7. So don't eat everything on the plate

There are plenty of healthy choices at most restaurants. The fact that a lot of people go in ordering a three course meal contributes, but that's hardly the restaurants fault.

[closeupready]

10. Portion size - that is definitely a problem in American restaurants.

There's a rule of thumb that models use, which is order what you want and eat only half/third/just until you've held off hunger. Even then, when I've followed that rule rigidly, I find I'm still eating more than I would if I were in Europe, but it does help to stick to such a rule when I need to take off some weight.

Methods of preparation - I'm not really sure what you mean by that. If you mean foods processed to include a high degree of refined carbs (sugar, flour), I definitely agree.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. that is what I mean, carbs, salt and sugar

As to what the models use... I sort of do

I tend to order the smallest portion they have... so if this is Burger King the Junior burger, and just eat half of it.

A salad at a restaurant the half portion... I do things like that

Or order a side, and have that as a meal.

I learned a long time ago that a "regular portion" is way too much food.

[NashVegas]

53. For Staters, You're At Burger King

And as much as I enjoy the flavor of fresh, flame-broiled goodness, chain-restaurant burgers (regardless what chain) tend to be among the most calorie-dense food you can eat.

The average restaurant is going to give you more food, by volume, than the average high-end place. And in the South, you'll get tons more food than the average person should eat in two sittings. They do it by using frozen and/or inferior, cheaper, ingredients that have to be tweaked up the ying-yang to have any noticeable flavor. But you'll get so much more food for your $12 meal than you will for your $25 that it looks like you got a good deal.

Then you have chain restaurants, like Cheesecake Factory, that charge more and still offer mediocrity - and tons more food than you should eat ... but it's such a good bargain ...

[nadinbrzezinski]

55. That is why I never finish their burgers

but we have a problem and the point I have been making is that RESTAURANTS are also part of the problem, and if the country is going to get over this, it will have to regulate the business... that is the point i am making. Free market will not do it, no way, no how.

[NashVegas]

76. I Agree

Free market isn't going to do it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

80. Now we also have a whale of a job educating people

and seeing what is the relationship between the preservatives and all that crap and addictive behavior.

I believe we will see some of that in time... my favorite target right now is HFCS... that crap and its extensive use goes hand in hand with the rise of obesity to epidemic levels.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

62. "Burger King the Junior burger, and just eat half of it." OH MY GOD!

Unless you are a 100 pound female, how do you survive on half a Junior Burger?


I'm sure you get a side salad or a fry.. but it just seems like a full junior burger would be ok.

Now if you ordered a whopper, then half portion makes sense (I would do that too if I had a big burger).

[nadinbrzezinski]

65. because I eat until I am full and very rarely do I want more after half

a burger... ONCE I broke that rule and I felt overstuffed until next day.

Bad habit I picked up a while ago... it works... I pay attention to what I eat.

Now after I had a fall and hurt myself I actually finished it... I WAS hungry though.

[wordpix]

174. corn syrup is in almost everything at those fast food joints

Highly processed junk

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

41. You decide how much you eat -

so blaming the restaurant goes nowhere.

You don't want to gain weight, don't eat as much.

Your problem, not the restaurants'........................

[NashVegas]

67. Most Restaurants Now Offer Food As Homogenous, Mass-Produced Widgets As Major Label Recordings Do

The NYTimes can publish stories about it all day, and the average person still won't have time to inform themselves.

If their own peers don't point out the truth to them - again, and again, and again, if necessary - they'll never hear about it.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

69. Huh?

I'm talking about over-eating.

If people decide to eat in lousy restaurants, and then they scarf down everything they're served, who's at fault?

Your post makes no sense to me, sorry.

[NashVegas]

77. Have It Your Way, Then

Most people decide, for themselves, whether they're going to smoke a cigarette or not.

But we still sued the crap out of Philip Morris.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

79. I'm not as smart or sharp as you -

so I'm sorry, but I can't understand what you're posting.

Are you equating restaurants with cigarettes?

Really?

[NashVegas]

146. Not Exactly

In the first response to you, I was indicating the changes in the restaurant industry over the last 20-25 years and its similarity to another industry where consolidation resulted in an industry that was built on providing nourishment, of sorts.

The music industry used to be a culture, now it's about what can be marketed as operations have consolidated from umpteen to four major labels, who now busy themselves shoveling crap down peoples' throats. The consumer seemingly has more choices than ever, yet has less and less time to educate themselves, if they have the inclination in the first place.

If market forces are going to ridicule consumer advocates who try to stand up and call 'bullshit,' who try to educate consumers, they deserve to be treated like the cigarette manufacturers who used marketing tactics and psychology to manipulate consumers into over-indulging in their products. For that matter, the link between over-eating and weight gain is equally and far more immediately demonstrable than smoking and cancer, and if anti-smoking advocates were able to become so wildly successful as to triple the cost of a pack of smokes and nearly outlaw the public practice of smoking, the door is wide open for lawsuits against Applebees and other chains that have stacks and stacks of research into consumer psychology re: food and restaurants.

[nadinbrzezinski]

148. Oh on that one, I took a marketing course

way in the day in Mexico.

Our restaurant du jour was VIPS... they use the most horrendous decorating... they use orange seats with brown.

So what does this have to do with the price of tea in China? Well research revealed that the color scheme made customers eat more, and faster... so they sold more food per customer, and got a faster turn over.

It was the same course that I learned the meaning of the inverted V in the marlboro pack and became far more aware of the practices. Mass restaurants do use a lot of brown though... kind of... thanks teach.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

149. Maybe you didn't understand my post -

my post simply said that people are responsible for how much they eat in restaurants. No one is shoving a great big meal into anyone's mouth. We still have control over what we choose to put into our bodies, at least via the alimentary canal.

I'm confused by all your words, since they have nothing to do with what I posted, but, honestly, in that first line, your phrase about cigarette companies "... providing nourishment, of sorts" is kind of strange.

Nicotine as "nourishment"?

Anyway, you're not responding to what I posted - you're making a speech, and I really haven't the slightest idea of what you're saying or where you're going with it, but have a nice trip, and make sure you don't eat too much once you get there........................

[NashVegas]

151. I Understood Your Post Perfectly

I simply find that it ignores some unpleasant facts about the modern food and restaurant industry, especially as it applies to research-driven entities.

I also chose to remind you that it wasn't so very long ago where the consensus was that cigarette smoking was a personal choice, and we should all just leave it at that. If you choose to ignore the implications, that's your own call.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

153. No, you did not understand it -

I made a simple statement about personal choice.

It also ignored that standing in the rain will get you wet if you don't have an umbrella.

You took off on a tangent that had nothing to do with personal choice.

I would urge you to try to make your points, such as they are, on your own. This inane piggybacking just ends up as a comedy, and, in the right hands, could be set to music and become a rather entertaining operetta........................................

[NashVegas]

154. Alas

DU does not give one the option to refuse posters the ability to post in disagreement. Perhaps the ignore button would better serve you.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

157. As I said in my initial post,

it's all a matter of choice...................

[Stephanie]

158. OT PM: Excuse me, I thought we were pals.

My mistake.

[Hippo_Tron]

119. We sued the crap out of Philip Morris for blatantly addicting kids

For one, food isn't chemically addictive in the way nicotine is. Secondly, parents can teach their kids not to smoke but that can be erased overnight when the kid starts smoking a few cigarettes in the school yard. Good eating habits aren't going to be erased if a kid tries a few big macs in the school yard. Third, you can eat bad food in moderation without serious consequences. Most people I know who try to smoke in moderation wind up either getting addicted or quit altogether because they realize they are getting addicted.

[nadinbrzezinski]

123. We are finding that there are addictive compopnents to the junk food

it is in the mix of fasts, sugars and other stuff in them.

:-)

So yes, I fear the next frontier will be Mickey Ds... not kidding here.

[Hippo_Tron]

124. While I think there is some truth to that

The addictive components in junk food are not even close to being comparable to nicotine.

[nadinbrzezinski]

127. Of course nothing is as addictive as nicotine

we all know that, not even crack.

But the picture that is emerging is not nice. I suspect the next frontier will be mickey Ds, and CHFS... in fact, I am willing to bet that Diabetes (the current epidemic) will be directly tied to it, sooner or later.

[Hippo_Tron]

131. Doubtful

Unlike cigarettes the fact is that the parents probably bought their kids those Mickey D's and thus they are the ones to blame. Personal responsibility arguments will win the day unless you can show that it involves kids, who aren't capable of making personal responsibility decisions.

IMO, the reason diabetes is an epidemic is because of poverty. It's nearly impossible to buy healthy food in the inner city in many places.

[nadinbrzezinski]

136. that takes us into our national food policy

but HFCS have a role in this... emerging science and all that. But our current food policy is one of the reasons for diabetes, but it also coincides with the use of HFCS... almost to the year they were introduced.

As to the suing... and all that it will come. I suspect it will come in class action not individual and it will take 20 years...

[Hippo_Tron]

141. HFCS are used because we subsidize corn and put tariffs on sugar

And yes I agree that we need to change our national food policy. As far as suing goes, I'm betting that it will not happen and if it does it will be thrown out of court. We already know that fast food is bad for you and most people have already laughed off the idea of a class action lawsuit against fast food for causing health problems.

[nadinbrzezinski]

143. attitudes are changing but the evidence on CHFS will mean they will go

from food.

It is cutting edge emerging science...

And yes we do need to change our food policy, wholesale.

Now speaking of food, I need to get me dinner... ah salad for dinner tonight.

[NashVegas]

152. The Corporate Food Industry Is Every Bit As Research-Driven As Philip Morris

And much of it is centered on getting consumers to over-look their very best interests.

http://www.upiu.com/articles/researching-food-addiction

[uppityperson]

3. Too much salt makes food taste better and you retain water.

Ordering a salad with oil/vinegar lets you put on just the amount you want. It also helps with roughage for a healthy bm. water retention and lack of bm can add up a couple pounds in a day, but it usually passes. so to speak

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Well I did order them

oh and by the way, the state of California is now forcing our restaurants (chains) to provide nutrition data.

Believe me, one of the salads was a shocker... 1200 calories in it... and salt up the whazzoo.

I usually order the half salads at that particular restaurant, but you get the picture.

Now as a diabetic I love the fact that they have to do that. Counting carbs is no longer an exercise of guesstimate.

:-)

[Libertas1776]

6. ugh

I usually feel nauseous and bloated, not satisfied after eating out at most chains. Blech!

[TahitiNut]

8. Working in France for 3.5 months, I ate at restaurants daily and lost weight.

Each morning, I'd start with a petit dejeuner - croissant, cafe au lait, and confits. Each work day I'd eat at the company cafeteria, during a 90 minute lunch period, a full meal with wine. Each evening saw us selecting another Paris restaurant (or one where we traveled for the weekend) and enjoying dinner for about 2.5 hours. I've never eaten so well. I lost weight.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. two and a half hours, you ate until you were satisfied

I am also willing to bet that food had far more fresh fruit and vegies, even if prepared the way they were.

:-)

Oh and sounds absolutely delicious.

Oh and your breakfast, that was a 2 oz most likely, not the six oz we have in the states

:-)

[closeupready]

13. And I bet your portions were much smaller, weren't they?

And probably low in refined carbohydrates?

[Shagbark Hickory]

15. LOL Going to paris and losing weight is not how it usually goes down when les americaines wobble in

[uppityperson]

58. envy envy envy envy envy

who were you working with, or what did you do? How fun to be able to do that. I love how businesses do lunch. Eating out with bon frère, he got a really good meal, mine not so much since I was paying cash at a company cafeteria.

[krabigirl]

64. LOL, I gained weight when I went to Paris. Walked a lot, but it was winter and I ate too much.

:)

[seemunkee]

9. I'm currently reading The End to Overeating

Interesting book, even if the first 2/3 of it are a bit repetetive.
I'm heading out on vacation on Wed and need to get some rules in place for myself to keep from gaining too much while going to restaurants for the next 10 days.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. One trick I use is if they have half portiions

stick to those

If they have senior portions, stick to those.

Kids... not so sure... I am not kidding a local restaurant (national chain) their kid's mac and cheese is a full box of the stuff... which has more than one portion.

Oh and appetizers (order one) are just dandy as well.

[seemunkee]

70. We'll be in Italy, so not sure how portions are going to be

Fortunately the Euro/Dollar conversion is going to keep my ordering under control

[nadinbrzezinski]

73. Europeans tend to have more sensible portions

You will see, I will give you an example. An average croissant is 2 oz over there, here... 6 ox

[noiretextatique]

87. i lost weight when i lived in italy for 3 months

because i walked everywhere. i ate pasta every single day, but i burned the calories.

[nadinbrzezinski]

66. I just got it into the IPOD to read after Sharlet's book

thanks, I completely forgot about it.

[brooklynite]

16. Not wishing to be critial, but --- who made you eat everything?

The fact that a restaurant supersizes their burger or serves two extra-thick pork chops with fries, doesn't mean you have to eat it all. Restaurants would be happy to serve less if they made money of the the transaction; they're responding to the demands of the market.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. I didn't and that is the point

But I am sure you knew that.

I never order full portions any more

I NEVER eat the whole portion either.

Food at restaurants is STILL NOT HEALTHY... got it now?

Good.

Oh and one more thing, the market will take care of this is just pure, unrelenting BULLSHIT.

[BlooInBloo]

18. (shrug) Not healthy for *you*, perhaps.

[nosmokes]

23. Not healthy for anyone

unless of course you happen to be in a cafe where the chef is conversant w/ SLOW food, then you can be reasonably certain you'll be getting fresh wholesome food served in appropriate portions with delicious and healthy treatments.

[BlooInBloo]

24. Thanks for deciding what's healthy for me...

Amazing that I've literally never been sick a day in my life. What would I do without you?

:rofl:

[NashVegas]

71. They Aren't Responding, They're Creating the Market Via Tweaking Customer Perceptions

I order a burger and fries for $4. It costs the restaurant $1.25 for food and labor. $2.75 profit.

"You know you can get a large fries and a coke and get .50 savings?"

Now it's $5.50 on my end and an even $2 for them. Profit's up to $3.50

The trick is done not only to get their profits up, but to give the customer the perception they're getting a better deal (more food for less money - a game they play against the consumer) at restaurant A than restaurant B will give them.

[anigbrowl]

187. Only if people are dumb enough to buy into it

I rarely eat fast food, maybe once per month. If they try to upsell me on a drink or so, I generally decline (partly because I don't like soda to begin with). I mean, I could pay more and get a discount, but I just tell them that I only want what I actually asked for.

I don't feel they're playing a trick on me when they do this; it's reasonable to point out they have a special offer (just like a real restaurant does - the 'special' is whatever is going cheap at the wholesaler and was worth purchasing in bulk) and to test out my price sensitivity. Occasionally I'll take them up on an offer if I particularly like it, but generally not.

I mean, I know their business model consists of trying to sell more stuff at a higher price than they paid for it. It's naive to assume otherwise. At some point you have to own your own food choices.

[NashVegas]

156. Are You Not Aware That Marketers *Create* Demand?

That's why they get paid.

[Vinca]

19. America is all about quantity not quality.

We've pretty much stopped eating out because the giant plates of food make you feel like a pig at a trough.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. I know, got the reminder of that

even at the local Mexican place. The size of the burritos was insane.

I ended ordering a side dish... and that was enough food... more than enough to be exact.

The side dish was a single tortilla, with some beans, chicken and cheese...

My BIL that day looked at me weird, like you are not going to have enough...

[Contrary1]

21. I go online and look at the menu before we go to the restaurant...

I'm not into overpriced "half portions". I order what I decided on beforehand, box up the leftovers, and end up with two additional meals at home.

I also ask for a second box to clean off plates, grab the extra bread, etc. That goes to the birds and other assorted critters who frequent my back yard.

[DevonRex]

22. Yes, they are part of the problem. Plus, have you noticed how many

commercials there are for FOOD??? It's either restaurant ads or junk food ads or ads for soda. And at the main intersection near my house there are 20 restaurants. Twenty on 4 corners. It's getting embarrassing.

[TexasObserver]

25. Because asking for a take home container is sooooo hard to do.

The problem is refusing to stop eating, and failing to take home leftovers.

If the restaurant provides me with twice the food I need, I'm the person who decides whether to eat it all at one sitting. I've never had any restaurant person insist that I clean my plate before leaving. It's up to me to stop eating when I'm full.

I have no problem ordering dishes to my liking, and taking home extra portions if they remain after I'm full.

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. Becuase I did not finish the meal

learn to read

Because a lot of it went to waste because the portions are insane, and what part of kitchen under remodeling are you missing once again?

because restaurants prepare foods that are carb rich, salt rich and not healthy for you. Yes, you can find exceptions, but they tend to be niche.

I love it how people always do this.

LEARN TO FUCKING READ.

Oh and if you are in California, take a gander at the NUTRITIONAL INFO that restaurants are NOW forced to offer their custormers...

I am sure you too can justify a 1200 calorie SALAD, or a 1800 calorie burger. After all that IS normal, right?

[TexasObserver]

27. Blame the restaurant. It's all their fault.

Who chose the restaurant?

Who drove past the Whole Foods and stopped at Calories R Us to eat?

Who decided to feed the kids fatty restaurant food, instead of cooking them a meal at home?


Clearly, the restaurant industry is after you, and there's nothing you can do about it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. Whether you like it or not THEY ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM

capiche?

Not the whole problem but PART OF THE PROBLEM.

And yes, REGULATION will have to come to change some of this... whether the libertarians on DU like that or not.

Once again, JUSTIFY an 1800 KCal burger, or a 1200 KCal salad.

By the by, those ARE average portions in the US. And yes, there are PLENTY OF FUCKING SCIENTIFIC STUDIES that prove that Americans have a distorted view of what a NORMAL portion looks like.

[TexasObserver]

32. If one raises their kids as I did mine, they aren't obese and they know how to order food.

Would you like lessons? I can explain how one goes to a restaurant for food and still manages to avoid eating too much or eating things unhealthy. First, set a good example.

Next time, try feeding the kids a meal you prepare at home. Use Olive oil, and go easy on the salt. Add more flavor with peppers.

Give them wedges of fruit for snacks while they watch TV, play video games, or do homework. Take them to the counter at Whole Foods for a healthy sandwich and a glass of carrot juice.

If you think like a victim, that's what you will be.

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. My kids have feathers so no

I don't need them.

You still don' get it. Absolutely do not get it.

The portion sizes at restaurants ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM. You like blaming victims, don't you?

Also you STILL REFUSE TO READ... I did not have access to a working kitchen... why we went out. GOT IT NOW? OR do you need it spelled any further?

[anigbrowl]

188. Does this mean you're for the birds?

Or do they have feathers because they're little angels?

[HamdenRice]

179. Please! Please!

You two are among the sane here at DU, whose comments I enjoy.

Please don't get into a food fight!

:rofl:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

139. Did you mean

"capisce"? If you're going to affect Italian, spell it correctly.

No one is forced to go to a restaurant, order a meal, and eat it.

It's just more fat people whining about someone "victimizing" them. It's the new American way, and it's laughable. I can order healthy meals pretty much everywhere, but if I were a Big Fat Face, I might not get what I want, so I'd have to slather it with Honey Mustard Salad Dressing or some such horror.

People do this to themselves. I have no sympathy for anything done voluntarily......................

[Missy Vixen]

34. I'll speak slowly

It's unfortunate that so many here do not comprehend what they read.

Kitchen. Under. Construction.

I'd also like to mention that the vast majority of the American public do not shop at Whole Foods because of the price. We don't. Their prepared food is even more unbelievably expensive.

We've done a lot more eating at home lately, but I can see Nadin's point. Of course, those who are bent on pushing their RW "personal responsibility" meme will just keep doing so, won't they?

[Contrary1]

35. I took it to read her sister's kitchen was under construction. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

37. and me and the kids were staying at her place

it is a mess.

Trust me.

I brought them home Saturday to cook breakfast as I had to pick up hubby to to to Legoland, but otherwise we staid over there.

[nadinbrzezinski]

36. And their prepared food is not that healthy either

I have bought some of it... rarely, when I go to the doctor and run out of time to make lunch. They are one step away from the doctor's office, otherwise completely out of my way.

What you said about the meme, absolutely... after all the free market will take care of everything if we just step out of the way... I mean they'd add things like poison to powdered milk if that stretches the product...

After all we all know that has not happened... they amaze me too.

[TexasObserver]

42. To match your thinking.

[nadinbrzezinski]

46. No that is your thinking, you are one of the Personal responsiblty crowd

and would never see a problem with companies, or anything like that. After all we have never seen additives in milk, or bad meat used with good meat to make sausage... never

The former, recently with China, the latter... go read some history. To be specific, US history.

But no, whole foods is not that healthy EITHER. And it is expensive to boot.

[TexasObserver]

54. Yes, I suggested eating smaller portions, taking some home, and picking healthier restaurants.

Now you know how to deal with those restaurants that force you to come inside, order food, and eat it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

56. Given we seldomly go out and this weekend was a good reminder of WHY

your advise is directed at the wrong person.

Restaurants are part of the problem, whether you like it or not.

By the way, my children have feathers, and boy they eat a more varied diet than many Americans...

[anigbrowl]

189. Maybe you should eat at a better class of restaurant

one where all the food doesn't come from ServCo or the equivalent, for example. I'm quite OK with chains having to put calorie counts on their dishes, but on the other hand I think the vendor can serve pretty much whatever they want and I can buy it...or not.

[teranchala]

104. So...personal responsibility is a BAD thing except when it is exercised to savage corporations?

I'm beginning to get it...

[nadinbrzezinski]

111. What part of it is both the corporations and citizens are you missing?

but we are getting increasing evidence that yes, foods at restaurants are designed to create cravings, use another term, addictive behavior.

[teranchala]

114. Speaking of cravings, I met an idiot who wants to legalize marijuana and outlaw

fast foods. The craziest fucking thing is he's a Democrat. So Republicans don't have a monopoly on stupidity.

[nadinbrzezinski]

116. I am all for legalizing drugs since prohibition has fully failed

but that is a whole different discussion, can you stick to the issue at hand?

[teranchala]

118. I still think you're just pulling our legs.

I refuse to believe any DUer is obtuse. :D

[nadinbrzezinski]

120. look in mirror

obtuse all around.

And yes I am being very serious. You are giving these companies a pass. We have a crisis, and it is time we look at all of it, not just the consumer.

And yes, I do have a problem with a restaurant serving meals at 1000 calories a pop

[Missy Vixen]

99. Oh, you're quite a wit

Considering the fact that the OP mentioned the kitchen in the house was non-functional, it's too bad you either don't read, or don't comprehend what you read.

Then again, you'd miss yet another chance to take the moral high ground, huh? :sarcasm:

[TexasObserver]

145. you'd be that, and less

I favor people taking responsibility for what their hand sticks in their face.

[Missy Vixen]

180. At least I comprehend what I read

>I favor people taking responsibility for what their hand sticks in their face.<

I favor people getting off their high horse and joining the real world. If you can afford to shop Whole Foods on a regular basis, you don't have much of a dog in this fight. I'd be willing to float the idea that 90% of the American public can't afford that store on any kind of regular basis. We live in one of the more affluent areas of the country, and the vast numbers here don't shop at that store, either.

It's unfortunate that your RW/Libertarian bent won't allow you to admit the obvious -- restaurant food is loaded with additional calories to make the food taste better, the portions are gigantic, and perhaps it would be a good thing to shrink those portions somewhat, or offer some other solution. Then again, the "personal responsibility"/"free market" crowd won't ever admit anything's wrong, will they? :eyes:

[flvegan]

28. You're right, it shouldn't be an everyday thing.

As rarely as I go out to eat (for business, 99% of the time), I look around and notice what folks order and consume. Most of it is simply shit. Even the healthy stuff is drowning is butter, sour cream or dressing of some sort. Portions are huge. Too much is fried.

So yeah, every now and then, enjoy. But it won't do you any favors.

[nadinbrzezinski]

31. We go out rarely, but I had no choice with the remodel

so yes, I looked for places that were more reasonable, but still.

I was in absolute shock.

(Now on the bright side part of this is probably water retention, ah the salt in meals is just insane as well)

on the bravo... local frozen yogurt place, you serve yourself as much or as little as you want. Took mom there last week, and we had some frozen yogurt wiht fresh fruit. Now an acquaintance went there too... morbidly obese. While he took a full container, what was it 16oz? we took at best case, 3 oz each, including the fresh fruit.

I actually love places like that. They allow you to do exactly this, eat as much or as little as you want.

[dustbunnie]

38. Eating out is easy, even at crap places.

For breakfast, order poached eggs on unbuttered brown toast. For lunch order a club with mayo on the side, or a salad with dressing on the side. At Mickey D's get a plain small burger. At Asian places, order a dish and ask for it steamed. They will do it. At places where there is nothing but crap on the menu, eat only a third or half the plate. Leave the rest or take it home. Eating is one of the few activities where personal responsibility and choice still applies.

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. what part of I DID ALL THAT are people incapable of readying?

This is part of the problem. Look the restaurant industry IS PART OF THE PROBLEM... it is not just the customer.

Now I will aks you the same I have been asking. JUSTIFY for me, the 1200 Kcal salad... or the 1800 Kcal burger... I mean I am not even going into the deserts here... but it is damn scary when one of the deserts has LESS calories than a salad.

(For the record, I have not ordered a full portion of anything IN YEARS at a restaurants. but they still have a LOT of salt, carbs and sugars.

By the way thank you arnie, one good bill he signed, FORCING chains to give dietary info easily, not having to pry teeth. So counting carbs is now damn easy.

[BlooInBloo]

45. Does "Kcal" mean "kilocal"? Meaning "1000 calories"? So you had a 1.2 million calorie salad?

And then a 1.8 million calorie burger?

You really might want to inquire into your own decision-making abilities.

[alarimer]

72. When people talk about calories, they are actually referring to Kilocalories.

So 1200 Kcal = 1200 calories in our sloppy way of talking.

[teranchala]

84. I will give you 20 dollars for one kilobuck.

Deal?

[nadinbrzezinski]

85. Well I could have used European caloric measurements (Joules)

but that would have required a conversion on my part...

Sorry I just went for the technically correct term.

Now I will take a kilobuck, as long as it looks like a buck.

:-)

[dustbunnie]

49. Sorry. I wasn't directing that at you specifically. Just making an observation.

Restaurants make a huge profit by offering a lot of shit on the side. The whole supersizing thing is a good example. Charge people what seems like a small fee for loading up on shit that costs almost nothing. McD's made a fortune off that one. Serve up a dish that would normally go for, say $10 but put it on a serving platter (literally) instead of a plate and fill it up with fries or other crap that costs virtually pennies and you can charge $15. People fall for these marketing schemes and think they're getting a bargain.

As for the salad thing, yes it's gross. But that's why I said, people can opt for dressing on the side, or only eat half. People need to be informed and ASK what's in the food they're getting. And yeah, there are many names to call Arnie, but having been a bodybuilder, at least he did institute that one positive thing.

[teranchala]

89. There is no salt, carbs or sugar in salad. Maybe in the dressing.

Unless of course you are ordering a dry lard salad.

[nadinbrzezinski]

90. that was the caloric number

not my imagination

Go take a look

http://www.islandsrestaurants.com/menu/nutritional/facts.aspx

[dustbunnie]

91. The garden salad was 1330 cals but it's all in the dressing and croutons.

Calories from fat were measured at 890 cals. One tablespoon of oil is equal to 100 cals so that makes sense. Again, a smart person would ask for the dressing on the side and pick out the croutons.

The greek salad was only 550 cals which is a good amount for any woman eating sensibly.

[nadinbrzezinski]

95. I know that, but this is the TOTAL intake from a FULL SALAD

and it is quite sad that people don't understand this.

[teranchala]

92. that includes bread and salad dressing. Do they make you eat those?

:eyes:

[nadinbrzezinski]

96. And your point? THAT IS THE FULL CALORIC INTAKE FROM THE SALAD AS PRESENTED

having readying comprehension problems?

This is the offering at the restaurant not any modifications on HOW YOU may consume this and reduce the calories.

So you have no problem that a restaurant has a salad at this caloric density? It is all to the consumer, the restaurants have no issue in this, and gosh darn it, the consumer is the only responsible party. Where else have I heard that crap?

Oh yes, libertarian thinking... by your bootstraps thinking.

[teranchala]

98. No, I don't think I have any readying (sic) comprehension problems.

I just asked if they forced you to eat the bread and the dressing which contain 90% of the calories. Is it perhaps POSSIBLE to order it without those accoutrements and enjoy the rabbit food part? I wonder if you know it is entirely possible to die from drinking too much water. Maybe you want to regulate Mother Nature so she doesn't make you drink all that toxic dihydrogen monoxide.

Actually, I think you're just pulling our legs with this whole thread.

[nadinbrzezinski]

102. Yes I know you can die from consuming too much water

do you want to stick to the main point?

You are basically saying... it is up to the consumer, after all the restaurants have no responsibility in this. Yes they do.

So does the eater, here is a book you should read... The End of Overeating: Taking Control of The Insatiable American Appetite. The author is Dr. Kessler, you are in for a few shockers in that book. perhaps you will come to realize just how much the ADDICTION to food is coming from the FOOD INDUSTRY...

Oh and your but you are pulling our legs with this thread is WEAK...

Oh wait, it is all the person eating the food... NOT any responsibity on the producers of this... who spend weeks, even months, developing perfect combos that have particular effects in the human brain. And no, we do not know that tobacco was addictive either... that is the next great revelation to come to this country.

By the way, you have yet to address the issue that a RESTAURANT is offering a salad that is at 1200 Kcals, you have no problem with it, do you?

Damn libertarian thinking, personal responsibility crowd giving corporations a fucking pass... every time and twice on Sunday, so damn fucking predictable.

[teranchala]

106. Actually, no I have absolutely no problem with a restaurant offering any fucking thing they want

and believe people will pay money for. And stop misusing the goddamn units...Kcal means KILOcalories. One Kcal is 1000 calories. Jeezusfuckingchrist

[nadinbrzezinski]

112. whatever you say Mrs Libertarian, corpos can do whatever they want

perhaps we should also abolish FDA, and other controls and let them truly run free.

Hmm libertarian paradise for all

[TexasObserver]

110. "Every time I try to get out, they pull me back in!" - Godfather III

Sure, I could drive on past and go to that Salad Bar, or that Vegetarian Restaurant, or order from the low cal section of the menu, but they surround me with rolls, and butter, and sour cream, and bacon bits, and gravy, and desserts. I'm just one man. How am I supposed to say NO to that?!

First, they make me go there, then they make me order high calories dishes, then they make me eat them all.


FYI - I'm in favor of full disclosure of the calories, fat, etc. of each dish, but after that, it's each person's duty to plan their life.

[nadinbrzezinski]

115. So tell me, if you are in favor of full disclosure WHY did the restaurant

industry FIGHT THIS in California tooth and nail?

WHY?

[TexasObserver]

126. There is no rational connection between my favoring full disclosure and your question.

If you really want to know the answer to your question, you could go look it up, instead of asking me to explain it to you.

As I said, I favor full disclosure. After that, it's up to you to use your own personal responsibility.

That's not being a libertarian. That's being an adult.

[nadinbrzezinski]

129. Let mr play a game of what if... what if we find out

due to research, that indeed, people have been addicted to food. Will you blame them, or treat them the same way we have treated those who were addicted to tobacco?

And yes my question is relevant. Companies are fighting revealing all this info because they fear what is comming. They spend months creating menu items that have a high pleasurable factor, and we are seeing addiction behavior. I highly recommend you watch Supersized. It might clue you in. Or read The End of Overeating by Kessler.

If things were as simple as personal responsibity alone then they would have never fought this. Nor would we have issues with addiction such as tobacco use.

Get informed, because the personal responsibity shtick is libertarian, and gives the companies a free pass, when they do have some of the responsibity as well.

[teranchala]

121. Help me out here...why is personal responsibility such a horrid thing?

And why is it inimical to Democratic values? I don't even come close to 'getting' that...
:shrug:

[nadinbrzezinski]

125. Becuase in this case it is not the whole answer

that is why.

The evidence is beginning to form and the picture that is emerging is not very nice.

I guess personal responsibity should have been applied to smokers too, who never got addicted to the product and could quit in a NY Minute, huh?

[teranchala]

128. I have no idea what YOU're smoking...but I smoked cigarettes for 47 years.

I exercised my own personal responsibility to smoke and then to quit in August 2007...(sumbitch, it's 2 years this month...I had forgotten!)

But you didn't address my question: why is the concept of personal responsibility so anathema to so-called 'progressives'? Is it a bad thing, and if it is, WHY?

Do you depend on someone else to tell you when to shit? Probably not so where is the dividing line?
I just find the whole idea that personal responsibility is a bad thing to be incredibly fucking goofy.

[nadinbrzezinski]

134. congrats, you are the excpetion to the rule

as nicotine is highly addictive.

But you are all the personal responsibity crowd, do companies have any? Or is this all the individual, which is what you are arguing. We regulate things in society to make them work better and function as a society. You believe in any regulation or not? Will you run a red light? That is the state holding your hand after all, it should be your responsibity not to cross to avoid a crash right?

Do you drink water> That is the state regulating how clean that water is, or would you rather exercise your responsibity to boil the water and filter it? Related buddy. As a society we do regulate behavior. You are having a problem with corpos getting regulated? That's it... individual responsibity, corporate freedom... that is libertarian thinking.

And cutting edge science is revealing that indeed the food industry in this country does have a role to play in the obesity crisis. How much... we have yet to see... but they do.

[nosmokes]

190. And your breathing ability, your immune system and your stamina sucks

now. You can try and deny it if ya want but you have some degree of COPD and it's only gonna get worse.You're already suffering from bronchitis and allergies that never used to bother you and your teeth are a bloody mess. but it was your fully informed decision when you picked up your first cigarette to get addicted to something that would cripple you w/o even the benefit of giving you a buzz. Do you seriously not wish to hold corporations accountable when they deliberately put products on the markets that are known to be harmful and addictive solely because it's gonna make some fucking money? That's just sick, sick and fucking twisted.
Congratulations on quitting!

[TexasObserver]

132. It's not. It's a good thing. We Democrats favor it.

Some think that it is always the fault of someone else when anything goes amiss.

There is little doubt that restaurants compete, and in that competition, use fattier, richer foods to entice people. But it is still up to each of us to use a little common sense.

I do not give the restaurants a free pass, which is why I favor full disclosure.

[teranchala]

135. Thank you. I favor disclosure too...apparently some aren't bright enough to use the info.

:shrug:

[nadinbrzezinski]

138. what the fuck are you talking about?

enjoy your stay and welcome to my ignore list

[NashVegas]

175. It's Not, But Corporations Must Also Be Held Responsible

When they put profits over public good.

In order for one to make responsible decisions, one needs accurate information.

Now, here's a question back at you: what's so horrible about people trying to inform others about practices at corporate eateries designed to entice consumers into over-purchasing and likely over-indulging?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

166. The horror, the horror -

you're doing nothing but making sense, and now I am FORCED TO AGREE WITH YOU.

Why does God let things like this happen?

:::: sigh :::::

:thumbsup:

[TexasObserver]

170. into the heart of darkness

How can God let this happen?

[dustbunnie]

100. It's not libertarian thinking, it's common sense.

If you make a salad at home and douse it liberally with salad dressing it will come out to the same cal count.

If you go to the finest French restaurant in Paris and order a salad or dish with sauce, it will be around the 1000 cal count as well. It really doesn't matter if the fat is from excellent olive oil or the cheapest lard. It's all 100 cals a tablespoon. Most people who go out to eat enjoy having their salads dripping with dressing and so it's served that way. It's up to the consumer to say "go easy on the Italian" or ask to drizzle it on themselves.

Do you really need someone to hold your hand and tell you that salad is high calorie if there's an oil-based dressing on it?

[teranchala]

101. I think somebody is yanking our chain.

Do you think so too?
:-)

[nadinbrzezinski]

113. And you;'d be wrong

[dustbunnie]

133. Nah... I think many people just don't understand what's in food.

Eight tablespoons of salad dressing is really not a lot on a large salad. A lot of people just have trouble making food judgment calls. :)

[nadinbrzezinski]

107. So in the end corporations are free to do as they will

fine.. it is the same story every time. YES RESTAURANTS have a role to play in this...

And yes, this is libertarian thinking last time we saw this was... with tobacco... after all we all know Phillip Morris was all peaches and cream.

By the way, no I cannot make a salad at home that caloric dense, for several reasons.

1.- I never serve myself that much salad

2.- I never use those many croutons

3.- I eat my sauce on the side

4.- YES, restaurants work for months creating perfect combos. I realize libertarian thinking infects folks, some of us have it, regardless. But we will need regulations to change some of this.

ME I applaud Arnie, he fought the food industry and forced the sharing of nutritional info at the table all over cali.. bravo... I suspect that will lead to BETTER choices.

By the way, you are defending the indefensible... did you also defend Phillip Morris and company?

[dustbunnie]

130. Part of it is the restaurant wanting to make a profit.

You can't charge much for a small salad and so a main meal salad in a restaurant will be large.

Many people are vegetarian and not overweight and so a huge salad at a restaurant suits them fine. People who are watching their weight need to be careful what they ingest, no matter where they go out to eat. They need to learn how to judge calories and portion sizes.

If you want to make comparisons to smoking, people have the choice not to smoke and we try very hard to help addicts quit, and keep kids from starting. People have the choice to leave food on their plates, or to ask for low-cal modifications. Just as with smoking, there is tons of info out there on how to stop overeating and lose weight. I've been on specific diets for athletic training, and never once had a problem asking servers to ensure I got what I wanted and needed. Mostly they were enormously helpful. Are you saying that because there are food addicts among us, we need to make ALL people conform to their dietary issues? I know I certainly wouldn't like it if government suddenly imposed restrictions on portion sizes and fat content because obese people are uninterested in learning how to "read" food. I guess that makes me a libertarian.

[nadinbrzezinski]

140. And you would have no problem if regulations were put in place

removing CHFS from food, forbidding restaurants and other producers from adding sugar to everything they serve, things like that... (Yes salad dressings have sugar or other equivalents in them, and there is a reason for it)

You would also oppose making people aware that a salad at the restaurant is four portions, or that a 12 ox steak is four portions.

Yes that makes you a libertarian, at least on this issue.

For the record we are all libertarians on an issue or two.

[dustbunnie]

161. I have no problem with regulating unhealthy ingredients.

It just sounds like you want food portions to be regulated as well, and that's going a bit far in my opinion, even though the portion sizes in some restaurants is both sickening and wasteful. In the end though, fries are fries, and salad has oil on it. These are calorie-laden foods and some people can handle it. The overweight have to actively make modifications. :shrug:

I don't oppose putting calorie counts on menus at all either, but people who are overweight can easily find out the calorie counts of food on the net or in books.

[nadinbrzezinski]

167. Of course since fatties are lazy... of course, face-palm!

look here is how useful this was last week with dad

He takes insulin

The guess how many units of fast acting insulin we need ended. We HAD the actual carbs there... so calculating back from the total to what he actually ate was easier...

I am sure you didn't even think of that one... me as a diabetic makes life so much easier as well.

Oh wait, mom is lazy too. Not to mention me, why not carry an IPHONE app or a book with me at all times? (For the record the IPHONE app is no joke)

Unfriggin unbelievable.

By the way, I suggest you DO read a book or two with recent research into food addiction and buy a clue while at it.

[dustbunnie]

171. Whoa!!!! Over react much?

Who said anything about "fatties" being lazy? It certainly wasn't me. I own a piece of a gym and my very best friend is morbidly obese so I have a pretty good idea what food addiction is all about, including the psychology behind the torture of your entire life being encapsulated by whether you are being "good" on a diet, or "bad" during binge phases. So thanks, I do have a clue. Not sure where your tirade is coming from, other than maybe because I said overweight people who are trying to lose weight have to be actively interested. That is a fact, whether you like it or not. People who don't, fail. I always tell overweight people to get a good book like the Nutrition Almanac, especially if they are completely ignorant about what's in what they eat. Even one good read-through can change someone's perspective.

[nadinbrzezinski]

172. You are like a few here, and no I don't think you have a clue

I also know that EVERY Thread that blames the restaurants for this (as well as people) I am not being exclusive but people can't read, gets the I am better than you brigade out of the woodwork

Now here is a clue for you, get the new research. You don't get it. AT ALL... on how FOOD IS ENGINEERED to hit the hedonic bliss points.

yes, addiction is part of this, and it is BY DESIGN.

[dustbunnie]

173. I have no idea what threads you're talking about.

Actually I do know a lot of about food and exercise because my job requires it. I've also read David Kessler's book.

But regardless, this isn't worth you getting so bent out of shape. What I do works very well for me and my family and friends. I'm sure what you do works for you. Good luck with your crusade to get restaurant portions reduced.

[nadinbrzezinski]

182. my crusade .... is to get corporations held resposible

and yes, I intend to make it a crusade, because the HEALTH of this country is at stake.

I realize that the crusaders for tobacco faced the same "personal resposibity, the market will take care of it" shtick in their faces. So be it. Some people give a pass to corporations every day and twice on Sunday.

[TexasObserver]

144. Good post. People have to learn to eat to live, not live to eat.

I enjoy a good meal. I enjoy it most if I STOP eating before I get too full. While it is true that too many dishes have too many things that pack on fat, sugar and calories, the main problem is simply overeating.

Do the tasty ingredients play a role? Certainly, but whether one can hit the brakes or not while eating is more likely to be a function of how they came to think of food during formative years than the ingredients in such food.

[dustbunnie]

162. Yes, exactly. Couldn't agree more with everything you've said.

Sometimes a good pig-out fest is fine, but not too often. :D

[Tangerine LaBamba]

44. Naw, that's too sensible -

there's always got to be a villain, and there's always got to be a whining victim.

It's the (HA!) American way.........

[dustbunnie]

93. Americans love quantity over quality, adore a bargain, and go out to eat --

because they're ravenous, not for the good company and getting to sit on your tushie while people run around getting you things, the way they do in other countries.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

137. The "all-you-can-eat" phenomenon -

people come to America from other countries, and watch this spectacle in horror................

[tjwash]

40. Oh hell yeah...you can balloon up big-time eating out all the time

At least when we are at home, I can watch the salt, the cream, the sugar, and all the other stuff that restaurants use that can put the weight on.

When I was traveling all the time and eating out in restaurants 5 days a week, I was up to a good 220. Now I am back down to 180 because I don't do the traveling I used to, and cook at home all the time, and bring my lunch that I pack myself to work. It's pretty easy to put the weight back on if you aren't careful.

[nadinbrzezinski]

43. Yeah I am glad I am back home

I remember watching the program where this guy ate Mickey Ds for a full month. They had to stop it early due to the scary changes in his biochemistry. That was scary. And all the but, but, but it is your fault crowd should rent Oversized and WATCH IT.

[tjwash]

47. Super-size me!

I loved that documentary, especially the part where he was actually displaying symptoms of addiction to fast food. I haven't eaten at a fast food joint in years, and the last time I did, I actually got sick at my stomach and threw away an entire bacon double cheeseburger after one bite....it actually just tasted nasty to me after not having one in about 2 years at that point.

[nadinbrzezinski]

50. yeah you are right, super size me

I have, I think this weekend will be the last time in a long time. I tend to have a junior burger at Burger king, with a soda once a quarter at best... when I am in a rush or feel very hungry... and need something fast. I hardly finish them anyway. (and actually that is a reasonable choice compared to some of the crap)

[NeedleCast]

51. That "documentary" was a total farce

Is there really anyone out there that believes eating three meals a day at McDonald's isn't very, very bad for you?

Show of hands. Who thought that documentary would turn out any other way than the way it did? If anyone watched that bit of framing asking themselves "I wonder how this'll turn out..." they should be declared insane.

Yes, us terrible personaly responsibility people have popped up yet again to laugh at you.

"I went into a restaurant, ordered an appetizer, entree and desert (and diet coke) and gained weight."

[tjwash]

59. Hi...how are you?

:rofl:

Take ourselves a tad too seriously much?

[noiretextatique]

88. i think there are people who eat mcdonald's every day

who have no idea of how much they are harming themselves. if it is so harmful, why is it being sold? perhaps that's the logic, or lack thereof that keeps mcdonald's in business.

[wickerwoman]

48. Yeah, it's a shock if you look at the calorie counts...

I almost never eat out but ending up doing it twice last month while helping my brother look at houses in unfamiliar neighborhoods.

At Cheesecake Factory their one lone "health conscious" item was 700 calories. Everything else was 1000-1200 plus another 1000 if you had the cheesecake. So a day and a half's calories for an average woman at one sitting.

At Olive Garden they have one entree at 500 and everything else is well over 800 and most are about 1000. Pretty much any meal you get in a restaurant these days is at least two meals.

Yes, you can ask for a doggie bag, but I don't carry around a freezer chest, I refuse to eat perishable food that's been sitting out more than an hour and I don't live that close to the restaurants I eat at (by definition if I'm eating out, it's because I'm too far from home to eat there.) So when I eat out I'm pretty much being forced to pay for two meals and then throw one of them in the garbage. Even more than the health reasons, this is why I generally refuse to eat at chain restaurants.

I'll bet if you polled people in an average chain restaurant asking them how many calories were in the food they just ate most would underestimate it by at least half.

[nadinbrzezinski]

52. Or even here at DU

we have a problem with people not knowing portion size any more.

Hell, today I made a stew, asked hubby how much do you want? A portion... in reality he had a portion and a half, and I had a portion and a half... but I can bet most people cannot do that. That was about 300-400 Kcals on the outside... but we still have some small bowls round this house...

Hell, even with every day food. Apples are my favorite example. They are healthy RIGHT? Ask around what is a portion? Most people will say an apple... what size? Most people will point to the large apple, usually two to three portions depending on size. I purposely buy the small ones. They are the closest we can get to an actual portion.

[BlooInBloo]

61. WOW! 300,000 - 400,000 calories in stew! That's truly incredible. Really.

[Obama2012]

185. What we call a calorie is shorthand for Kcal

:eyes:

But, please, feel free in continue on with the foolishness.

[noiretextatique]

94. i am pre-diabetic

so i was told a month or so ago. i eat fairly healthy, but my portion sizes were way out of control. now i know a lot more about portions.

[nadinbrzezinski]

97. As a diabetic I can share some tricks

for me increasing fiber and using low glycemic foods is the best... as well as exercise...

Demand to see a Diabetes Educator and get a plan to avoid going into the diabetes diagnosis. Pre means you have insulin resistance.

[noiretextatique]

186. thanks...i am still in the process of being diagnosed

i still have to take the A1C test and another oral glucose tolerance test.
i haven't seen a diabetes educator yet, but my hosptial offers those classes couple of weeks.
i am on a 1600 calorie a day low carb, low fat diet, and so far i've lost about 10 lbs in 3 weeks.
:hi: thanks for the advice and i will be pming you soon.

[NeedleCast]

57. Hi, welcome to the United States, been here long?

As a person who worked in the restaurant industry for years, its your fault. If you're left with far more than you can eat when ordering a single entree, order a half-portion. Almost every restaurant in the country, especially the chains, will be happy to prepare a half portion for you at a discounted price (usually 60-75% of the price of a full portion).

Your post is full of things you refuse to do (eat perishable food that's been out more than an hour, seeming inability to request a half-portion meal) and you want the restaurant to be the victim.

The chains BANK on those calorie counts because the vast majority of the people dining there want large amounts of comfort food. If they didn't, the chains wouldn't be massively franchised.

The OP and several other posters in this thread want the restaurants to take the blame for providing something that a very large number of people appear to want. That's really not how it works...

[NashVegas]

75. Perhaps You Can Explain Why More and More Restaurants Add "Plate Sharing Fees" For Split Portions?

As more and more restaurant patrons find portion sizes completely out of hand?

And while you're at it, where on the average menu are half-portions mentioned?

[nadinbrzezinski]

81. I'll mention one, Islands.. they have half salads

their BEST most reasonable choice was the Caesar Salad at 500 cals \ half salad.

That is the exception to the rule by the way, and I will give props to them for that.

[NashVegas]

159. That's Great

I do hope the industry expert will answer though, about why more menus mention plate sharing fees instead of half-portions at half-prices.

Or should that be normal portions, at half-prices?

[wickerwoman]

122. I grew up in the US, lived overseas for most of the Bush administration

and only recently moved back. The first thing I noticed was "holy shit! that's three meals they're serving me on that plate!" My family didn't bat an eyelash at the same meal. I felt nauseous eating less than half of it.

I lost 70 pounds the first year I lived in China, eating any damn thing I felt like and not dieting. Surprisingly, when I wasn't served three meals at once, I didn't eat three meals at once. Or feel the slightest desire to. Plates in China are a third of the size of the ones in the US. And nobody is rioting over there demanding that restaurants serve them 2200 calorie meals of "comfort food". American chain restaurants overseas serve half-portions of what they serve in the US automatically. The smallest size soft drinks you get over here ("child size") are "large" drinks in most of the rest of the world.

I actually didn't know that you could order a half-portion meal. And the fact that I could live in the US for 28 years without ever being told that suggest to me that a lot of other people don't know it either. And the point of the thread is that many Americans have "portion distortion" brought on by growing up in a culture where they eat out often and are routinely served two to three times as much food as they should be eating.

I don't want anybody to be the victim. I want to be able to buy one meal at a time without feeling like I'm the one being a pain in the ass. I want to pay for the food I'm eating in the restaurant and not have to worry about racing home to get the other 2/3rds of my steak in the fridge before it becomes inedible. I'm betting a lot of other people feel the same way.

Restaurants serve monster portions because their profit margin is higher on them, not because of some mystery demand for three meals at a sitting (in a country where many people spend their entire lives trying to diet). If they served less on smaller plates, most people wouldn't even notice. As they don't notice in every other country I've ever lived in.

[nadinbrzezinski]

142. I grew up in Mexico

Mickey Ds et al serve the same portions they serve here, and obesity is worst than here

But we went to a local restaurant and ordered tacos, those were sufficient, not the crazy portions that we have here.

We also throw a lot of food away because of this.

And yes, the portion distortion is real.

[NashVegas]

176. I Want to Say This Started In the Early/Mid 1990s

I was in the Northeast until 1994 and portions always seemed pretty unremarkable until Pizzaria Uno came and brought its individual serving-size pizza, blowing Pizza Hut's Personal Pan Pizza out of the water:

Here's their basic:

Cheese & Tomato Deep Dish Pizza, Individual Size


Take note: serving size: 1 pizza

After that, places like Ruby Tuesday, Mozzarella, Chili's, Applebee's and the others started coming in.

In the town where I grew up, it was already long-settled with privately-owned individual restaurants serving normal-sized food w/few additives, but the junk chains have been slowly increasing their hold. In areas that are new to develop, junk chains are pretty much all there is.

I can only imagine that the DUers in this thread who scoff at the notion there's nothing out of whack about modern portions and claim that only the individual needs be responsible must be fortunate to be wealthy enough or fabulous enough that they've never been in or been acquainted with someone who'd set foot in Ruby Tuesday or Golden Corral. Either that or they're all franchise owners or stockholders.

Can't imagine why anyone else would have a problem and try to grief on someone who's trying to educate consumers.

[grasswire]

60. I have had the opportunity to visit a restaurant supplier of food store

...and I can tell you that probably most of the restaurants both chain and local are buying frozen packs of pre-made food and just heating it up. Everything from "gourmet" this and that to onion rings to desserts, it all comes to the restaurant pre-made and pre-processed.

Ever wonder why so many restaurants have the same soups on the menu? Because they get it frozen in big bags. The same specials? Ditto. The same dipping sauce? Ditto. The same same same same same same same..........

Citizens should start asking what is made from scratch, on premises.

[nadinbrzezinski]

63. Worked food services as a college student

if people saw the blocks of processed junk that passed for Cheddar cheese...

:-)

When I volunteered at a Kibbutz they had some processed in the kitchen, but most of it was made on the premises from produce that came from the fields. Their processed was things to just speed some of the cooking like dry herbs and spices. It was so different from the... school cafeteria... where all came from processed junk... my favorite were the gloops of chili.... big ass can... yummy. The only non processed on that, maybe, were the chopped onions.

[cali]

68. don't know where you live. that sure ain't true of local restaurants where I live.

[NashVegas]

178. Cali, You're In a Little-Developed Area With Tons of Independently-Owned Fine Restaurants

Where servings don't get that huge.

Try driving down to Rutland sometime and getting a "Classic 10-ouncer" burger at Applebee's.

[Hippo_Tron]

103. I think it depends

I worked at a local chain Pizza place and most of our ingredients were fresh. Canned olives and pineapples but other than that we chopped most of the veggies and meats and those that we didn't came to us from the suppliers refrigerated but not frozen.

On the other hand, I can definitely think of some restaurants (mostly national chains) that I'm almost certain fit your description.

[grasswire]

108. I wish it were national chains only

Until last month I lived in a trendy where many more well-off people came to dine at little restaurants and cafes. Oh, how interesting! Carrot ginger bisque! Oh, look ubiquitous Tomato Basil soup. Many of them took the shortcut in some items. And this is a town called the hottest restaurant town in the nation.

[nadinbrzezinski]

117. It is also cheaper to use the prepared stuff

helping with the bottom line. I asked the food service manager and that was her explanation.

[alarimer]

74. I blame corporations exclusively for obesity.

Both the restaurant corporations and Big Food. They give us no options and then hide the information we need to make good choices.

I blame eating out for my weight gain. Now that I am wise to the ways of these piece of shit corporations, I am taking it off pretty rapidly.

But the information is not easy to find, even if the chain has a website. Some do not have nutritional info available at all. It should be mandatory and it should be printed right on the menu. When people start choosing the better options and they lose money on the highest calorie, highest fat stuff, they will be forced to change.

[nadinbrzezinski]

82. In cali now they have to by law offer nutritional info

which as a diabetic helps to end the guess how many carbs are in this meal game.

I was amazed at some of the calories listed. I am not kidding, ordering the desert would have been less caloric dense than a burger. Ordering both is the food for a normal adult for three days.

[SoCalDem]

78. We use the "eat half" method.

we take home the other half, and there's dinner the next day :) Half price food :)

[nadinbrzezinski]

83. I could not with kids

and when we go out, hubby actually can afford to eat since he works at a very physical job. I just leave half behind or take it... I eat until I am full... but three days of this... and ooh boy. And lord knows I am careful.

[TexasObserver]

86. Agreed. It's a great way to save all the way around.

When I order most meals, I already know how much of it I will be taking home. Some meals are great for that, such as Mexican food. I make a great soup out of all that remains. Eating half as much as the typical main course in a restaurant is both cost effective and diet effective.

Restaurants make big portions because consumers prefer it. I like to make that work for me.

[kwassa]

163. I use that method, too.

since portions are absurdly huge everywhere. Makes eating out quite economical.

[SoCalDem]

165. When we go out for steak, I always get the BIG one

it's only a buck or two more, and makes quite a nice 2nd meal, sliced thinly on top of the half-salad I bring home..steak & baked potato one night and steak-salad the next night:)

[Ilsa]

155. I went to two grocery stores when I visited my brother in Dallas. NO ONE WAS THERE on a Saturday.

I couldn't believe it. I could park as close as I wanted. It wasn't crowded in the least. My brother told me it was because every one eats out most of the time. Where I live the grocery stores are always busy. People are fat here, too, but they shop for more of their food.

[nadinbrzezinski]

168. I park as far as I can regardless, but your brother is right, it is part of the culture

now.

:-)

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

160. Ha, if you are in Southern Cal.. did you ever go to Claim Jumper?

Desserts the size of your head, ridiculous stuff, and it's only a mild exaggeration of other restaurant food in America.

[nadinbrzezinski]

169. I have never been there, just heard it from second hand, aka SIS and BIL

As a diabetic it is not a place I want to be.

But since we are sharing reasonable or lack off... a chinese chain has deserts in small cups... those are actually proper size.

And even Islands has gotten the hint and is now offering (and according to a local manager I know) selling more reasonably sized deserts than they believed possible. Granted, they are still too caloric dense and when I was temped to order their brownie I was going to share it with mom and whoever else wanted it.

Long story.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

177. I stopped going to restrauants all together

and it was a contributing factor in my dramatic weight loss. I have lost 150 pounds in about a year and a half. I have done a lot of other things as well (stopped eating meat, exercise every day) but I really do think that the restrauants played a big factor in it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

181. Readying the end of overeating, and you are right,

they were an element in your weight gain, a critical one.

You were probably addicted to it.

I looked at my nephews eat and the reaction of pure bliss told me, they are well on their way to food addiction.

Their mother is an RD. I am getting her a copy of this book today. (I got the electronic is cheaper)

Might help her and her husband break the cycle of addiction.

[Veruca Salt]

183. It depends on the resturant

if you're going into a chain food resturant then expect to get crap food loaded with terrible ingrediants. I bet McD's uses < 80% lean beef which is the lowest I can find in the grocery (I use only 95% and above if available).

Though if you only have crap food resturants around you then that's the problem right there. In Portland we've got tons of resturants that use local produce, meats and fish so it's not hard to find a good resturant around here. Nothing beats homecooked though.

[nadinbrzezinski]

184. And having worked food service I can bet

that at least SOME of the ingredients at your local restaurant, using wholesome ingredients, come from the same companies that sell to all. For example, the American Cheese, which is used in burgers... wanna bet it is the same type used everywhere? The same block of Cheddar cheese that feels like plastic?

Also the portions, I am willing to bet, are not reasonable. Our local restaurants that use "wholesome Ingredients" serve the kiddies pasta bowls that are enough for two adults. This is where re-educating the customer into what is reasonable becomes critical.

Not saying that a few restaurants are reasonable, they are... but when you find one, hang on to it becuase that is a jewel.