Do you suffer 'Portion Distortion'?
pa@bcm.tmc.edu
713-798-4712
If you think food portions are bigger than they used to be, you're right. Take a look at how "typical" restaurant portion sizes have grown over the past 20 years or so:
| Food | Portion Size | |
| Was | Is | |
 Soda |
6 ounces (85 calories) |
20 ounces (300 calories) |
 Bagel |
3-inch diameter (140 calories) |
5 to 6 inches (350 calories or more) |
 Chips |
1 oz. bag (150 calories) |
1.75 oz. "Grab Bag" (about 260 calories) |
 Pasta |
2 cups (280 calories without sauce or fat) |
4 cups. or more (560 calories or more without sauce or fat) |
 Burger |
2 oz. patty + bun (270 calories) |
4 oz. patty +bun (430 calories) |
 French Fries |
2 ounces (210 calories) |
5 ounces (540 calories) |
 Dinner Plate |
10-inch diameter | 12-1/2 inch diameter |
Developed by the Children's Nutrition Research Center
Before blaming your local restaurateur for your family's growing waistlines, take an honest look at how you "value" dining out experiences. According to the National Restaurant Association's Dinner Decision Making study, most consumers rank portion size as one of the 10 "hallmarks of a great place."