portions in this country..

[ihartgonzo]

lol@portions on Italian food...

Can ANYONE here actually picture a real honest Italian mother saying to someone "the portion is too big...let me take some back..."

:rofl1:

hahaha!

I totally agree. Some restaurants, that are clearly geared toward the average "family", do have really big portions - but those are usually Italian, Mexican, or "All-American" type restaurants (like Chili's, Ruby Tuesday, etc). Lots of people DO bring home leftovers, and have kids, and share plates and such.

I usually go to cafes or little local restaurants in the city, rather than huge chains that are obviously made to appeal to large groups and families. It's a lot more adventurous, fun, and quaint to go to local restaurants and, in my experience, they have way more reasonable portions and healthier meals.

The one thing that shocked me is... $60... at Olive Garden?!?! Did you order 4 meals?

 

[noludoru]

Also my aunts on my mom's side are pure German (parents lived in Germany and migrated here with one of them, had the other one state side) and they are BIG cookers. I love visiting them.

"Steve! How you doing? How's school? You hungry? We have lots of sandwiches in the back! Want some soup? No? How about some fruit then?" They're awesome.

I want aunts like yours.

 

[Bunny82]

I forgot to say...I must eat alot. cause...Olive Garden never impressed me with portions. (wine tasting..yes..portions..no) lol and I'm not a big gal. on the opposite side, I get completely annoyed when I've paid a big price and got a meal that left me wanting chips on the way home. LOL!

Actually I agree with you. I have always been very disappointed in Olive Garden. Their portions are not all that impressive especially considering they call themselves an "Italian Restaurant"

 

[iwantmypup]

Well, what do i know right? Most of my family is Italian and nobody eats like a cow. ::

 

[Dizzy]

I was going to say, having been to Italy the food there is supreme, but they don't allow you to gorge yourself to death on it....

The italians are healthy, not obese.

 

[~Jessie~]

Actually I agree with you. I have always been very disappointed in Olive Garden. Their portions are not all that impressive especially considering they call themselves an "Italian Restaurant"

Being an Italian, I've always been taught that the Olive Garden is evil. lol. I went there for the first time last year, and I was not impressed. The portions were big and COVERED in cheese. Definitely not what comes to my mind when I think of "Italian food."

 

[Gempress]

Just because you eat like a cow doesn't mean you look like one.

On my mom's side of the family, everybody has an insane metabolism. My petite, 120-lb sister can easily eat a 16-ounce steak, french fries and a salad for dinner. It's the norm for children in the family to be eating the adult "recommended" portions by preschool age. You should see the amount of food we cook on holidays and family reunions. And my family is not obese; there are a few who are, but the overwhelming majority of us are active and at a healthy weight. It frankly amazes us to see people who can eat "recommended" portions and be healthy. I actually lose weight on a 2,000-calorie a day diet.

I know not everybody can eat that way. But I don't want to see restaurant portion sizes dropped. I have a feeling that even if restaurants dropped their portion size, they wouldn't drop their prices. I'm a cheapskate and bargain hunter. I don't want to pay the same amount for less. If you can't eat it all, just take some of it home.

 

[Bunny82]

Being an Italian, I've always been taught that the Olive Garden is evil. lol. I went there for the first time last year, and I was not impressed. The portions were big and COVERED in cheese. Definitely not what comes to my mind when I think of "Italian food."

LOL that is because Olive Garden is evil. The food is not good at all. I try to avoid the place if possible.

 

[Bunny82]

Well, what do i know right? Most of my family is Italian and nobody eats like a cow. ::

I would not call finishing the plates at Olive Garden eating like a cow.

 

[M&M's Mommy]

Knowing that just $1.50 can provide food for one person for a month in Vietnam, I feel extremely sad thinking about the way we waste our food here in America..

 

[96 GTS]

Well, what do i know right? Most of my family is Italian and nobody eats like a cow. ::

I don't understand what your problem is. No one said you had to eat everything off your plate. I don't see what's so bad about giving people a lot of food, should they choose to eat it....

 

[Laurelin]

I was actually sad in Italy that we had to go to a pizzeria almost every day. I was wanting some other Italian food...

 

[skittledoo]

I don't see why anyone should not be allowed to eat more if they can afford it and choose to do so. I don't see why anyone should not be allowed to eat less if they choose to take that route. To each their own. I don't like seeing people waste food, but if you plan to box some up and take it home for leftovers then go for it. I usually try and box up half of my meal prior to eating so that I don't eat much. I generally eat about 4 to 5 small meals a day... it works for me. But... with that said... I have been known to easily devour an entire 12oz steak and then some in one sitting. I don't often because I don't eat much normally... but... I can't resist a good tasty steak on occasion.

 

[girlbuffalo1]

Oh leftovers all the way--I agree some things aren't that great reheated--but I still try to make do and eat them for lunch the next day as it's one less meal I have to spend money on. Generally I think it's a good idea for people to make a habit of having their own tupperware with them so then you can do a number of things:

1. Have something to put leftovers in that IS NOT STYROFOAM
2. You can divide your portion right away and then you won't feel as pressed to eat till you're stuffed
3. If you feel bad asking for a box or whatever you don't have to.

I think it's great that some restaraunts offer smaller portions like TGIF Friday's has the 'right portion-right price' menu right now--you still get plenty but not a ton and the price is adjusted. I too wish you could order off the kids menu more at any age (who cares as long as I am getting less!)--I always order a big kids meal at McDonalds as they don't even advertise an adult sized 6 piece nugget meal any more (and 10 is just ridiculous).

 

[HoundedByHounds]

Ali unclench just a bit....no one need be a cow in this convo...not sure where the issue is here.

Besides eating like a cow has nothing to do with portion size and everything to do with regurgitation.

eta: and flatulence...how could I forget the flatulence???

 

[sparks19]

Ali unclench just a bit....no one need be a cow in this convo...not sure where the issue is here.

Besides eating like a cow has nothing to do with portion size and everything to do with regurgitation.

and perky udders.

LOL sorry I couldn't resist

 

[HoundedByHounds]

yes udder perkiness is directly tied to portion size...the more you eat the perkier your udders get.

 

[skittledoo]

and perky udders.

LOL sorry I couldn't resist

oh my... Tanya... you totally went there :rofl1:

 

[iwantmypup]

 

[bubbatd]

Do any of you look at what obese people are eating when you're out ?? Makes me sick !!!