Can you eat three course meals anymore?

Wish my appetite would diminish! I can definitely eat three courses.

Maybe it depends on what kind of restaurant - if it was a American BBQ type place or pub with generous portions and sides then I perhaps couldn’t or wouldn’t want to. But Italian or any kind of “modern british” I definitely can.

Sadly my metabolism has slowed so I ought to eat less, but my appetite is the same.

Berni Inn? Circa 1983? Yes!

I think it's portion sizes OP. I used to go to Beefeater and eat a 6oz rump or an 8oz sirloin. Now you're more likely to be offered 10oz steaks you can upgrade! You don't just get a piece of chicken. It's usually a half chicken or comes with ribs and bottomless fries.

You can't just get an ice cream - it's all sundaes with cream and cake in.

It's because food is the cheapest part of a meal out. They increase size and lower quality but can charge far more. And some people have been brought up on this sizing and will happily snarfle three courses wondering why they are the size they are. A meal out now could easily be 3000 calories or more.

My DC is a really healthy weight for their height. But in restaurants will often eat only half of the food offered because they're full. We taught them that they didn't need to eat any more once they were full and it's quite shocking how little they eat compared to modern food portion sizes.

@SpringOfContentment I said I have a line in my tummy which the main course one is full but there’s a gap for the pudding.

I'm finding I'm starting to not really want to eat as late either, I would be perfectly happy with a big meal at lunch and yoghurt if necessary in the evening, which is so unlike me.

I can’t at a restaurant but I could easily eat the same volume of food at home. I think it’s because I’m too busy chatting and the food is richer.

It was a thread years ago where a poster complained about the size of the massive salad she was served in a restaurant and could only eat half of it.

What's the MN Salad?!

I have a number of favourite restaurants. One I can manage all three courses. It is French cooking and the owner/chef focuses on quality not quantity. Some people do not get it but as he says if you want half a chicken and a massive portion of chips go elsewhere. The other is an Italian and with the mains there is no chance of eating all three courses. I usually go for a starter and main although I have had the anti-pasti starter (cheeses, salamis, cured meats, olives, artichoke hearts, etc. and bread) and dessert only. Another that is French/English has a fixed price taster menu and I can then manage all three there. What I have found as I age is that I have to avoid spicy dishes or I get half way through and become quite uncomfortable!

Or a glass of orange juice - a classic 70s starter 🍹😆

Very rare that we do and then only if we're eating with friends (at their place or ours) when you can take hours over a leisurely meal. In restaurants, I usually only manage one course! Two is a rarity but that's fine - I can always have a snack later if I feel hungry again.

My now deceased friend, Norna, used to say she could eat 3 potatoes more than a pig but like all of us, as she got older she ate much less.

The answer OP is

Yes, I can. Are you offering me one?! 🤤

😀
Sorry, I know it's just a typo, but the image of someone polishing off a chessboard with their after-dinner coffee made me laugh!

What?

You didn't notice how hugely portion sizes have increased? And sizes of dinnner plates have nearly doubled.

Did you not see that post of person intent on glutony from a single plate piled high and wide the other day?

Portion sizes have more than doubled, which is why there are so many obese people waddling around everywhere.

It's never about how many courses - it's about the quantity you're actually eating. And the less active you become, the less you should be eating.

I used to be able to eat huge amounts (and was sadly skinnier back then)…was always tempted to try a food challenge I could eat that much. I really can’t eat as much having kids…could push myself to but it gets so uncomfortable.

Would have to be a main and dessert for me - always have room for dessert!

No I'm lucky if I can eat a starter. I often opt for.kida meals when out due to the size. (Or my kid eats them).

In fact we had a family friend kick off because she saw me order a kids meal and an adult meal at a restaurant that insists the children's meals are for under 12's only. So when waitress brought them we waited till she walked away and I swapped my plate with my DS11 as he's the size of a man and eats much more. Sometimes I pick at mine then top his plate up but others we just straight swap. Friend insisted we were literally robbing from the restaurant and wouldn't take it in that my son was eligible for the meal anyway so we weren't robbing anything.

I find it depends on how hungry I am on a given day. Sometimes im more hungry than others. Some days I’ll polish off 3 courses, coffee and a chessboard. Other days I’m full after a starter. But then I’ve always been like that!

I’m about the same age as you OP and my ability to eat is no less than it used to be! I might not want dessert but that would be because I’ve stuffed myself with savoury food, I’ve never had a particularly sweet tooth.

Same here

I could eat it, but god I’d suffer all night and next day if I did!

Totally agree. No idea why but been a few years I can't eat more than main and something pudding..

If I’m know I’m going to have a 3 course meal in the evening, I’ll eat breakfast but won’t have lunch. Then I’m usually hungry enough! Even then I will choose a light starter such as soup.

I used to be able to,up until about 10 years ago (I'm now 60). But nowadays I struggle to eat 2 courses. I remember the days when I would go to a Harvester restaurant and could eat a bowl of salad from the salad cart,a main course and a dessert. Now,I can only manage the salad and main course,and after that I'm absolutely stuffed. When this first started happening,I was a bit worried,as I'd read that feeling full very quickly could be a sign of ovarian cancer,but I had it checked out and all was fine.

Where did I say that? I would just take home any leftovers and have them the next day, or give them to DH, or the dog.