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Larger Than Life Portion Sizes Helps to Fuel America's Obesity Epidemic |
Excess portion sizes have been linked to America's obesity crisis. Although many people may not be aware of it, there is a subtle difference between 'portion size' and 'serving size' in relation to food. These terms can be confusing, but they are not synonymous.
A portion is whatever you choose to make it. It can be thought of as any amount of a specific food you choose to eat at a sitting. For example a portion of raw almonds can be a handful, or a certain number.
A serving is not quite so arbitrary. It is a specific unit of measure recommended by the manufacturer for a food product. Serving sizes are listed on the 'Nutrition Facts' label of packaged foods. A usual serving size of bread would be 1 slice. For rice it may be 1/2 cup.
The serving size for the 1 pint container of Breyer's All-Natural Ice Cream is 1/2 cup. That particular container has 4 servings. If I choose to eat the entire container in one sitting, it would be considered a portion. That portion consists of 4 servings.
Serving sizes have increased tremendously in the past 50 years. This has triggered an almost parallel increase in portion sizes. The average size of a cooked hambuger in 1957 was 1 ounce. That increased to 6 ounces in 1997. In 1957, 1 large soda was 8 fluid ounces; in 1997, the consumer could buy up to 64 ounces. Theater popcorn in 1957 was 3 cups; in 1997, that increased to 16 cups.
McDonald's fast food chains had one size french fries in the mid-1950s. Today that size is a 'small' and is part of a kiddie meal. See how portion sizes have changed in the last 50 years:
french fries- 1950s: 2.4 oz.| 2003: up to 7.1 oz.fountain soda- 1950s: 7 oz. | 2003: 12 to 64 oz.
hambuger patty- 1950s: 1.6 oz. | 2003: up to 8 oz.
hambuger, sandwich- 1950s: 3.9 oz. | 2003: 4.4 to 12.6 oz.
muffin- 1950s: 3 oz. | 2003: 6.5 oz.
pasta serving- 1950s: 1.5 cups | 2003: 3 cups
chocolate bar- 1950s: 1 oz. | 2003: 2.6 to 8 oz.
See graphic illustration provided by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) here
Out of control portion sizes is helping to fuel the world's obesity epidemic. What's the solution? Eat a lot more fiber - fruits and vegetables. The
correct portion size for meat is the size of the palm of your hand.
Source: Portion Distortion: Serving Sizes Are Growing.
Retrieved from http://www.mealsmatter.org/Articles-And-Resources/Healthy-Living-Articles/Portion-Distortion.aspx