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Original poster

Restaurant portion sizes are huge

800 replies

Paq · 31/07/2021 22:05

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.

OP posts:
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RuthTopp · 01/08/2021 08:21

Yep, we honestly do. You get side salad, and like I said we order a portion of fries as well and half that.
We are not tiny people with small appetites , but it's enough for us.

SmallPrawnEnergy · 01/08/2021 08:27

These “massive salads that could feed a family for 4” are never photographed are they. Hmm

RampantIvy · 01/08/2021 08:32

Where are you all going to be served such huge meals? I feel like I'm missing out!

Rural South Yorkshire. No Michelin star restaurants round here with Michelin sized meals. Most non chain pubs do excellent food made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

You honestly go out and eat half a panini at lunch?!

If it came with chips I would either leave the chips or go half and half. I couldn't manage a whole panini and a big portion of chips either. Mind you, I would be having something a bit more special than that if I had gone out for lunch.

IDreamOfLogCabins · 01/08/2021 08:34

I did get a massive salad in a restaurant once and only managed a third of it, so took the rest with me. This was in the USA though. I'd never seen anything like it before or since!

Dacquoise · 01/08/2021 08:34

As someone who is losing excess lockdown poundage I totally agree. Portions in a lot of restaurants are too big and unnecessary. I went out for lunch with a friend yesterday and had a choice of one starter to keep the calories to a reasonable level. It was delicious tbh but if I had chosen one of their salads I would have used up most of my calories for the day.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 01/08/2021 08:34

In general it’s true that the more expensive the place, the smaller the portion. I’m not at all a big eater, but even I was once reduced to stunned laughter at the size of a supposed main meal at a smart London restaurant. It honestly consisted of no more than 3 pieces of filled pasta of the medium sized type.

In big-portion places I often have just two starters - I often fancy them more than the mains anyway - plus it usually leaves room for a pud.

BigSandyBalls2015 · 01/08/2021 08:35

Absolutely stuffed ....

Restaurant portion sizes are huge
LynetteScavo · 01/08/2021 08:38

@grasstreeleaf

Do the people posting that restaurant portions are ideal for them know how many calories they burn in a day? Are they overweight? What exercise do they do?

I'm curious because even though I exercise a lot I would put on weight if I ate like that at all regularly.

If I ate in restaurants everyday I would put in lots of weight! But at home I eat a large amount of food with fewer calories than restaurant food.

Last night I ate a delivery from a restaurant- rice dish dripping with cream and cheese- I'd never eat that at home. If I'd been cooking I'd have made a tomato sauce and filled out the meal with veg or salad.

However, the last time I ate out I had a veggie lasagne and I would have definitely served myself a larger portion at home, but wouldn't have had garlic bread alongside. I was quite peeved at paying £13 for an overcooked, tiny salty lasagna.

LolaSmiles · 01/08/2021 08:39

Do the people posting that restaurant portions are ideal for them know how many calories they burn in a day? Are they overweight? What exercise do they do?
Yes I do know how many calories I burn, and I exercise regularly, and I'm the lower end of healthy for my height.

I'm curious because even though I exercise a lot I would put on weight if I ate like that at all regularly
So would I. Thankfully I manage not to eat out at restaurants regularly because restaurant food is typically richer and much higher calorie than my usual offering. At home I still like decent portions though. When going for an evening meal out I might have a lighter lunch than normal. It doesn't seem unusual to balance food intake across the day.
Maybe I'm eating at the wrong sort of restaurants though. I've never been anywhere where a main course is apparently 3 meals worth of food.

grasstreeleaf · 01/08/2021 08:45

Thankfully I manage not to eat out at restaurants regularly because restaurant food is typically richer and much higher calorie than my usual offering. At home I still like decent portions though. When going for an evening meal out I might have a lighter lunch than normal. It doesn't seem unusual to balance food intake across the day.

I don't eat out regularly at the moment either but I do like to eat out. Once you add in drinks and all the courses it really adds up. I like the variety of different courses with an appropriate drink to accompany them. Because I like running every day I don't particularly like to fast for the rest of the day which is what it would take. I'd just like the choice of a smaller portion. Simple. Over half the population aren't over 6ft, muscular males.

grasstreeleaf · 01/08/2021 08:47

Yes I do know how many calories I burn, and I exercise regularly, and I'm the lower end of healthy for my height.

Same here. But I'm guessing your burn is more than mine if a restaurant portion is right for you. What exercise do you do? I run and go walking everyday plus do some weights a resistance exercises.

ThreeWitches · 01/08/2021 08:51

Oooh a competitive under-eating thread!

grasstreeleaf · 01/08/2021 08:54

If I ate in restaurants everyday I would put in lots of weight! But at home I eat a large amount of food with fewer calories than restaurant food.

So you do admit the portions are too big.

Last night I ate a delivery from a restaurant- rice dish dripping with cream and cheese- I'd never eat that at home. If I'd been cooking I'd have made a tomato sauce and filled out the meal with veg or salad.

I love delivery because you can box up half the portion to fridge as soon as it is cool enough and have it with a salad/ veg.

However, the last time I ate out I had a veggie lasagne and I would have definitely served myself a larger portion at home, but wouldn't have had garlic bread alongside. I was quite peeved at paying £13 for an overcooked, tiny salty lasagna.

That would peeve me for the amount of 'empty calories'. If something is very calorific it has to be really worth eating in terms of enjoyment for me and I only need a small amount of it.. I might have asked for a salad instead of the bread but often that means I end up paying more.

Clymene · 01/08/2021 08:54

I like the variety of different courses with an appropriate drink to accompany them.

I'm sure if you could find a way of doing this and serve tasty food and drink and keep it low calorie, you could make a fortune. What do you suggest @grasstreeleaf ?

grasstreeleaf · 01/08/2021 08:56

Oooh a competitive under-eating thread

Not from me. I just want to pay for and eat an appropriate amount for food for my calorific needs as a woman not a 6ft plus muscular male.

burnoutbabe · 01/08/2021 08:56

@RuthTopp

We don't tend to eat out in the evening , but will often go somewhere for lunch . We find that sharing a plate between us is fine , and as it is just lunch , no-one bats an eyelid. For example we share a panini and a portion of fries ( obviously have a drink each )
I tend to share a panini at lunchtime now. I fancy going out and getting out the house but half way through, I am happy to give the other half to my partner. Just find them quite rich.
starbrightstarlight8888 · 01/08/2021 08:57

I agree op. I've literally never finished a meal in a restaurant and I've never been able to eat a starter, main and dessert.

I just can't eat much all in one go, I've always been like that. I'm a slow eater so wonder if it's to do with that.

grasstreeleaf · 01/08/2021 08:57

What do you suggest @grasstreeleaf ?

Halve the portion. Add in a side salad/green veg. Have it a a lower calorie option for each meal on the menu.

starbrightstarlight8888 · 01/08/2021 08:58

@starbrightstarlight8888

I agree op. I've literally never finished a meal in a restaurant and I've never been able to eat a starter, main and dessert. I just can't eat much all in one go, I've always been like that. I'm a slow eater so wonder if it's to do with that.
Plus I'm a powerlifter so someone that should be eating a lot.
grasstreeleaf · 01/08/2021 08:58

For desserts, halve the portion and add in a coffee or tea as an option on the menu for every dessert.

LolaSmiles · 01/08/2021 09:04

grasstreeleaf
I don't fast for the rest of the day. I look at my plans for the day and adjust my food accordingly, just like I adjust my food arrangements if I have a sporting event, or if I'm going hiking, or anything else where I know food portions/requirements will vary.

Some people in my club eat more than me, others eat less, some have specific diet plans or training nutrition plans. People do what works for them. The fact I eat less than some others doesn't mean I should expect restaurants to do smaller side portions because I don't always finish all the potatoes/chips

Sparklingbrook · 01/08/2021 09:08

@grasstreeleaf

How can you be ‘caught unawares’ recreating a huge meal you had in a restaurant at home

You develop an appetite for it. You assume it is a correct portion for eating. I was taught as a small child to finish my plate. School dinners were hell because of it! It gets ingrained into the subconscious. I thought I was weird for not wanting to eat everything.

Anyway, I learnt. I'm fit and slim now and a healthy weight.

I don’t understand how you would develop an appetite for enormous meals just because you go to a restaurant every now and again. I know what a correct portion size is when cooking at home and don’t assume the larger restaurants portion sizes are correct. Confused
grasstreeleaf · 01/08/2021 09:08

The fact I eat less than some others doesn't mean I should expect restaurants to do smaller side portions because I don't always finish all the potatoes/chip

So you're happy with food waste? Over half the population won't have the food requirements a restaurant or pub portion is tailored to. We have an obesity problem in this country too which contributes to diseases which the NHS pays the price for in workload. All I think should happen is a choice of a smaller adjusted portion to account for those people who don't need to be eating as many calories.

hedgehogger1 · 01/08/2021 09:10

Did it have croutons. I find it's the croutons that push salad into the incredibly filling category. There's a months worth of carbs in those tiny sin cubes

grasstreeleaf · 01/08/2021 09:10

I don’t understand how you would develop an appetite for enormous meals just because you go to a restaurant every now and again.

It's a well recognised and documented phenomenon.

I know what a correct portion size is when cooking at home and don’t assume the larger restaurants portion sizes are correct. 

Well, aren't you just perfect..meanwhile in the real world people go astray occasionally...