Restaurant portion sizes are huge

[Paq]

Does anyone else find this? Went to a pub/restaurant last night and the portion sizes were insane. I managed a third of my salad, brought the rest home and shared it with DH for lunch today. DD got through half her curry and 6'1" hollow legged DH just about managed to finish his risotto but then felt overstuffed all night.

@rantymcrantface66 the nut roast balls were around the edge of the plate and the leaves were in the middle, so it wasn't too soggy! I agree that salad is a bit of a misnomer, though - it was basically a huge nut roast with some veg garnish 😂

That amount of crumble or cake would suit me perfectly. The only desert I can finish is a cheese board.

@grasstreeleaf you’re the poster wanting the govt to impose mandatory low cal meal choices and ramekin sized small portions upon restaurants. If You want your meal in a ramekin that’s actually quite niche and most people wouldn’t want that. You are of course at liberty to request slivers and ramekins when dining out, just as others will expect a portion to exceed a ramekin or a sliver. And accordingly most restaurants don’t routinely offer slivers or ramekin as there is no demand

It’s pretty common to be able to order a mini dessert with a coffee.

@rantymcrantface66 but cheese is a separate course, not a dessert!

Well it's listed on the desert menu as an option in the majority of places. We don't have to stick to the official rules of food you know 😆

. If You want your meal in a ramekin that’s actually quite niche and most people wouldn’t want that

Not my meal, my dessert. My main course should be served in the centre of a dinner plate.

grasstreeleaf
You're not being food policed. Nobody on this thread is suggesting you eat any more than you are happy with.

Whereas you think portion sizes should be done to suit what you think others need, that veg should be less starchy, that more of plates should be full of salad, that there should be under 600 calorie meals, and make it fairly clear throughout that you consider others to be gluttons or people who need to have time to devote to outtraining their overindulgence.

rantymcrantface66
It's not possible. In fact if such a thread existed there'd inevitably be someone arguing the could have a desert because just smelling the aroma of pudding is enough to fill them up.

It’s pretty common to be able to order a mini dessert with a coffee
And that's the kind of dessert I like.

@grass are you going to address that the you’re incorrect in asserting govt are introducing mandatory portions size. That you in fact you referenced a consultation about food labelling

You are of course at liberty to requestsliversandramekinswhen dining out, just as others will expect a portion to exceed a ramekin or a sliver. And accordingly most restaurants don’t routinely offer slivers or ramekin as there is no demand
I think you'll find the only reason most people don't want a tiny ramekin portion for pudding is because we have an obesity crisis.
People definitely don't enjoy a desert when they're out for a meal with friends and eat what they want, and stop when they want to.

@grass are you going to address that the you’re incorrect in asserting govt are introducing mandatory portions size.

No because it's not what I asserted if you reread what I said.

Ahhhh. You’re backtracking. As I suspected
I asked you to evidence your assertions you linked a consultation primarily about food labelling and traffic lights.Govt is not plannng to mandate on portion size

People definitely don't enjoy a desert when they're out for a meal with friends and eat what they want, and stop when they want to.

Well no, because this country is fairly plentiful in plant life....not arid, or dry or so snowy and cold nothing can grow or anything...

Ahhhh. You’re backtracking. As I suspected

Not backtracking, I never said it.

@EspressoDoubleShot

It is a complex biopsychosocial issue that needs holistic approach not mandatory tiny portions or low cal meals

You never did say what this holistic approach actually would include..

@Grass
you stated the government support your ethos,I asked you to substantiate you linked a wholly inappropriate consultation

"That’s why when it comes to food and drink, we want to ensure everyone has the right information, that they are offered a fair deal and that they are not unduly influenced to purchase less healthy foods and drinks. Put simply, we want the healthy option to be an easier option for everyone."

"On average the portions of food or drink that people eat out or eat as takeaway meals contain twice as many caloriess as their equivalent bought in a shop[footnote 20]. Research suggests that food we eat outside the home makes up 20 to 25% of adult calorie intake[footnote 21]_."

@EspressoDoubleShot, these quotes from the report I linked to earlier show that the government recognise it is problematic, in terms of health, that the meals that are available when people eat out are twice as calorific as a standard meal bought in a shop and that they want people not to be 'unduly influenced to purchase less healthy foods'. They want the healthy option to be made easier for people to choose. So they are openly acknowledging meals with a high calorie load are not good for the nation's health as a whole. Therefore what they want to be made easier is a meal choice with a lower calorific load. Not rocket science. Only difference between that and my plan is that their's involves labelling so would achieve this by stealth and mine involves establishments mandatorily providing a lower calorie option which would achieve this by an overt regulation. The ethos in terms of what is viewed healthy in terms of portion size/calorific load in the meals available in pubs and restaurants is the same.

@EspressoDoubleShot now what would be included in the 'holistic approach' you talked about?

Maybe someone should carry out some independent research to see how popular teacups of salad, tiny slivers of cake and egg cups of dessert would be in pubs and restaurants.

I think I know the answer.

It is quite possible to have a pretty good sized main course for 600 cals or under. As for salad leaves don't need to limit them to a teacup full, they aren't very calorific at all. Egg cup sized dessert? I mentioned a ramekin which is larger than an eggcup but an egg cup full of a rich chocolate and pistachio mousse would be lovely.

The consultation document acknowledges issues and recommends RAG labelling and calorie information. This will not be mandatory to all restaurants (small establishments will be excluded). The exact phraseology the document used is healthy options and doesn’t state a calorie content this is in contrast to your wishes for

@LauraFlashley

Maybe someone should carry out some independent research to see how popular teacups of salad, tiny slivers of cake and egg cups of dessert would be in pubs and restaurants.

I think I know the answer.

There is a middle road.

Portions are huge round here. I would love a three course meal, but because portions are so large I only ever end up having the main course.

And no, I'm not a competitive under eater, nor do I eat in cheap, chain pubs.

🤷‍♀️ tomaytoes tomahtoes

Last post@EspressoDoubleShot