August, 2013 – Healthy Portions

Health & Fitness

Healthy Portions

By Sherri Mraz

The portions, servings, helpings, slices and amounts of what we eat have grown dramatically over the past two decades.

The bigger-is-better motto has taken over the food industry, in conjunction with mass marketing to convince us to buy bigger sizes in order to save money.

Supermarkets, wholesale clubs and restaurants use the promise of better value as a way of pushing extra food onto customers.

Watch the movie, “Super Size Me,” a 2003 American documentary film directed by and starring Morgan Spurlock, an American independent filmmaker who follows a 30-day time period during which he eats only McDonald’s food. The film documents this lifestyle’s drastic effects on Spurlock’s physical and psychological well-being, and explores the fast food industry’s corporate influence, including how it encourages poor nutrition for its own profit. Spurlock dined at McDonald’s restaurants three times per day, eating every item on the chain’s menu. He also always “super-sized” his meal if given the option-but only if it was offered. As a result, the then-32-year-old Spurlock gained 24½ lbs, a 13% body mass increase, a cholesterol level of 230, and experienced mood swings, sexual dysfunction, and fat accumulation to his liver. It took Spurlock fourteen months to lose the weight gained from his experiment.

Food Facts

• Pizzas went from 10 inches to 16-18
• Hershey’s chocolate bar went from 0.6 oz. to 1.6 oz.
• Burgers have gone from approx. 3.9 oz. to quarter pounders and double burgers
• Starbucks “short” cup was 8oz. now the smallest is “tall” at 12 oz.
• Even cook books have increased the amount of servings and increased serving sizes
• Restaurants have larger portions and or “all you can eat”

Bigger portions mean we eat more than we need. When a larger portion is placed in front of us, we tend to eat 30% to 50% more! Most often we don’t even realize that we are eating more.

These are the Healthy Eating Rules I share with my clients: 

On a scale of 1 to 10 – eat to a seven

You feel satisfied but like you could eat more

You don’t feel over stuffed or hungry

Chew your food slowly

Be aware and grateful for each meal and each bite

The idea behind food manufacturers is to manipulate you into thinking you are getting more for your money. It is brilliant as far as advertising goes but what is it really doing to your psyche? You want to be very clear on their motive to make money and not allow yourself to be brainwashed.

The most dangerous fact about this marketing is what it does to children. They are subject to commercials that are very enticing. In Europe and Canada it is illegal to market to kids. The logo, “Trix are for kids” couldn’t state it better.

Eat with reverence and joy 🙂

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Sherri Mraz, The Cookin’ Yogi, works with individuals and groups to improve their health through nutrition programs, cooking classes and yoga. Board certified health coach and mentor. Winner of Flavors of Wellington’s Best Plate 2013. Sherri is also the chief editor for Banzai Wellness Magazine.

You can see more about Sherri and her classes at www.CookinYogi.com