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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that no one has any idea of reasonable portion sizes?

105 replies

Mallorie · 28/01/2019 20:26

The amount of food I see people eating at work is just mind-blowing. I batch cook most Sundays - nothing special or particularly healthy, just stuff like veggie pasta bake or sweet potato chili with rice, and I see people in the office microwaving similar food at lunch - but they're eating the amount I make for 5 meals over the week in one go! The guy sitting next to me will bring in 4 entire ham sandwiches and eat them at noon - AFTER having a sausage butty at 10am.
No one I've noticed ploughing through this food is obese, no more than I am, so maybe they don't eat much at home? If I ate those portions I'd be sick but if I got used to it I'd be the size of a house in no time.
Interestingly, I rarely see the people at work who ARE obese eating much of anything, which is odd.

OP posts:
3out · 28/01/2019 20:29

4 ham sandwiches, as in 8 slices of bread?

Happygolucky009 · 28/01/2019 20:29

I have a friend who is constantly eating, crisps choc cake in fact I have never seen her with fruit ! She must be a size 6!!!!! So not fair

3out · 28/01/2019 20:31

I think we have lost sight of portion sizes, I agree with you.

Lucked · 28/01/2019 20:31

I am intrigued. Would five of your dinners fit on one plate? You might double the amount on my plate if you piled it high but not a weeks worth.

SauvingnonBlanketyBlanc · 28/01/2019 20:33
Biscuit
QuestionableMouse · 28/01/2019 20:34

No, there's only you who knows what the correct portion size is. Just you.

RightOh · 28/01/2019 20:35

Totally agree.

The size of your fist rule for protein & palm of hand for snack size (4-5 dried apricot pieces) is really helpful - don't know how many use this though.

Fairylea · 28/01/2019 20:35

Oh I know what a healthy portion size is.

I just have no self control. BlushBlush

To be honest, I’m not hugely overweight (size 14 at 5ft 7) so I don’t really care all that much but I do think a lot of us just don’t really think about what we eat. We just eat till we’re not hungry. Blush

Raspberry88 · 28/01/2019 20:36

Well, if they're not obese then maybe they are reasonable portion sizes...!? I presume you mean 4 slices of bread so 4 halves... I'd say that's pretty normal for some men, certainly my DH (tall and broad but not fat at all) would eat that much.

LisaSimpsonsbff · 28/01/2019 20:36

Gosh you spend a lot of time looking at what people around you are eating! Maybe try doing some work?! Or just get a hobby, your choice.

Original poster
Mallorie · 28/01/2019 20:37

@3out yes, 8 pieces of bread. His bread bill must be insane.

@Lucked, my 5 portions of whatever wouldn't fit on one plate, maybe a bit less than half of a big dinner plate per portion? I usually have a bit of ice cream after dinner or a 2 finger Kitkat in the afternoon at work so I'm not starving myself. The people I see at work are microwaving big tubs of food, at least 4 inches deep and 10 inches long if not more. Just crazy amounts.

OP posts:
EarthboundMisfit · 28/01/2019 20:37

If they aren't overweight, why aren't they reasonable portion sizes?

KlutzyDraconequus · 28/01/2019 20:37

I use the hand portion guide .. as in I eat as much as my two fucking big hands can get hold of.

Onlyjoinedforthisthread · 28/01/2019 20:38

I weighed out our portions to the recommended amount for a couple of weeks, and still do for somethings, I was amazed how much I was over catering. At first I was a bit, is that it, but now I don't notice I think we just get used to over eating. I'm definitely not a health freak or crazy dieter, I eat all foods but now I just don't eat quite as much so I have more room for wine

3out · 28/01/2019 20:38

😂😂😂

curlii103 · 28/01/2019 20:38

I'm fully aware that a reasonable portion is about a 1/4 of the one in eating. I'd say I'm average 10/12

TeeniefaeTroon · 28/01/2019 20:39

I have to plate up our meals as if I let my husband take his own portion then he'd eat the extra portion that I've made to freeze.

Fairyliz · 28/01/2019 20:39

Well the fact that 2/3rds of the population are overweight would seem to support your theory that people are eating too much.

Onlyjoinedforthisthread · 28/01/2019 20:40

You'd better prepare to be flamed OP

RightOh · 28/01/2019 20:41

Over half of adults in the UK are overweight, I wonder if portion control plays a part in this.

RightOh · 28/01/2019 20:43

I'd say I'm average 10/12

To be honest, weight isn't an exclusive indicator of health. You can be slim and unhealthy, just as you could have a higher BMI but be athletic.

WarmthAndDepth · 28/01/2019 20:47

It depends what it is you put on the plate, surely? I have a mountain of green salad or shredded cabbage in a bowl with a boiled egg, a small tin of tuna or a couple of pilchards. I like to feel full, but not on carbs.
My problem is huge, strapping DP liking to 'plate up' someone start a plating up thread, haven't seen one for ages and serving us both identical portions.

hereforthelonghaul · 28/01/2019 21:02

You've no idea how many meals a day they are having. Some people do condensed eating within x number of hours

Apart from that YBVU to judge something that's none of your business

Butteredghost · 28/01/2019 21:05

I think people know exactly what a normal portion is, they just choose not to follow that. I know that's the case for me!

DanielRicciardosSmile · 28/01/2019 21:08

Interestingly, I rarely see the people at work who ARE obese eating much of anything, which is odd.

Maybe because they're worried they'll be judged for eating too much or the wrong thing?