What serving size is healthy for You ?

I recently heard a story that has caused me to think about some of the decisions we make about portion size.   

The story as told to me by a woman, we will call Wendy:

Wendy was out and about and found herself at a hamburger chain for a quick lunch – and thank goodness there now are salads and wraps and “would you like an apple with that”.  Beside her, Wendy could hear a mother and her 3 children.  The outing seemed to be some form of treat.  The mother said “What do you want to eat?” 

The youngest child wanted a burger.  She would have been maybe 4 years of age.  Mother said; “Would you like the double burger?” and the child responded “No thanks, just the regular burger”.  The mother then went on to point out that at just a little extra cost, the double burger was better “value” compared to the regular burger.  The little one restated “Just the burger, thanks mum”.  The mother said “Well, I’m ordering the double burger because it is better value for the money we are spending”.  The family moved off to their table with their food.

Wendy was a bit surprised at what she had overheard and observed.  As she was leaving the store, she noticed the family sitting together and the little girl had only eaten a few bites of the double burger and had moved some of the bun and meat about, but really had not eaten very much at all.  The mother was saying “Lucy, look at this, I spent good money on this and you know how hard I work for our money and it is such a waste of the food and of our money .…”

I tell you this story because when Wendy told me, I wondered “how often does this happen?”

Have you ever wondered where some of your eating habits came from.  Some of our early programming has instilled in us that sense of not wasting food and money.

In this instance the child knew she only wanted a regular burger.  The $$ value drove the decision by the parent, to purchase the larger size – because it is perceived as “better value”.  Do you think the marketing and sales departments of these companies know how to price their items in order to tap into our “value” driven decision making?

I don’t think it is just that fast food companies. 

I recently was buying ice cream to go with a baked cheese cake for dessert.  One of our nicest brands has a delicious pure vanilla ice cream.  I had lifted the 500g pack because that was about the right size for our needs.  I spotted the 1kg pack and noticed the price $9.85.  My 500g didn’t have a price.  The shop assistant checked and 500g cost $6.75.  This reminded me of the hamburger story.  Here I was with a similar decision – the smaller pack was the size I wanted, the larger size was much better value, in $$ terms.  I made a conscious decision to buy the smaller size, and we enjoyed delicious dessert.  And you know what? we still have ice cream leftover in the freezer.  If I had bought the larger size, we would be eating all of that ice cream for quite some time; completely unnecessary.

How many times a day, or a week, are we faced with similar decisions?  When it comes to food and eating, do we opt for the perceived “value” of the larger size? Or do we make a conscious decision to purchase and consume just the right amount? 

How have people gained excess weight?  Do you have the habit of going for the “value” size?  And then, do you finish the whole thing?  Do you eat everything?  Or are you comfortable leaving food on your plate?  Do you think it is OK to let something go to waste? Or keeping and having as a snack later? Do you have a tape playing some where that says “must not waste”?

Years ago I remember some one saying:  “in the waste, rather then on my waist”

Is that value size, really good value for you and your health?  In the coming days and weeks, observe what drives your food purchasing decisions, observe how you make decisions about which size you choose, and look for alternatives, and develop new healthy habits in food choices.

Happy Eating and Moooving !!