To eat the same portion size as him?

[AlexiaSox]

When I dish up for me and DP, I always give us the same amount of food. Same if we eat out, e.g we'll both order our own pizza and eat the whole thing (we both have pretty good appetites), and maybe share a salad.

The thing is, he is a tall guy, over 6ft, and I am much smaller...

Neither of us are overweight but I guess I am at the very top end of healthy weight.

So my question is, AIBU and should I generally eat a slightly smaller portion than him? I hate the idea of a 'dainty woman's portion' but is it just common sense?

What do you do?

I agree with keeping an eye on your weight now. It’s much easier to take action if you’ve put a few pounds to tip you in into the overweight category than when you’ve got a stone to lose.

I eat the same in a restaurant but I'll usually be over full. At home I give him a bit more... I don't imagine we need the same calories and he will snack a bit more. If I snacked and ate full meals I'd be overweight

You probably need to eat less than him. However, if you're eating less during the rest of the day, there's no reason why you can't have the same dinner? You shouldn't look at one meal in isolation; it's your entire calorie intake and exercise output,

When you eat out do they have ‘women’s size’ and ‘man size’ meals? 🤔, no because generally we eat the same size meals.

Eat what ever size meal you like. I’m sure there’s some men that eat less then their partner eats and vice versa.

When you eat out do they have ‘women’s size’ and ‘man size’ meals? 🤔, no because generally we eat the same size meals.

Eating out is a bit different though. Most people don’t do it every night and one meal where you’re eating more than normal won’t make you fat.

If you were feeding a 3 foot toddler, would you give them the same size portion as a 6ft adult?

It’s hard for others to judge; depends on the size of the potions, if your DH eats more snacks during the day etc. Eat what you like - but, as others have said, if you’re eating the same as a 6ft bloke and you’re a small woman, chances are you’ll put on weight.

I think you need to take your DH out of the equation here. Why are you defining what you by what he eats?!

When you eat out do they have ‘women’s size’ and ‘man size’ meals? 🤔, no because generally we eat the same size meals.

When we eat out, we're given the same sized portions as everyone else in the restaurant because we've paid the same price.

Generally people eat as much of that as they want to, so I disagree that generally we eat the same size meals.

We usually have the same sized portions of the evening meal but whereas I'm full at the end of it DH always has pudding, fruit AND chocolate immediately after.

When we eat out we normally order 2 different main courses that we both like and swap/share. He eats faster than me so I always get less than half of his meal.

When we're out I tend to order the burger/steak/huge full english breakfast and DH is much more likely to order a salad. The waiter always automatically gives the salad to me and steak/whatever to DH. I don't care. I'm not overweight and I love food (I only have red meat usually when out but always eat big meals).

I normally eat less that DH as I don't have a huge appetite, DH is also incredibly active so is slim despite consuming nearly 3000 calories a day.

@AlexiaSox

I guess I just find it funny that I can always eat as much as him (including seconds) despite the height difference! But I am late 20s so hoping it doesn't catch up with me

Ah. It will, OP, it will!

I don’t understand why you would ask if you should serve yourself less than what someone else has. If your weight is a concern then adjust your own portions accordingly- regardless of what someone else is eating. What he eats has nothing to do with what’s appropriate for you. Don’t assess your own portions in relation to his, assess them based on what you need to eat.

I wouldn't gauge all my meal sizes on the occasional meal out. Restaurants serve the same to everyone with few exceptions so choice of meal may affect portion size but no other factors. At home I have always served DH more. He has totally different nutritional requirements to me. He's 6" taller, a much bigger overall build than I am and weighs 60% more than I do so it would be crazy to serve the same size meals day in day out.

It could be your DH's nutritional needs aren't being met rather than you necessarily eating way more than you need.

I probably eat more than my DH. And have done for however long we’ve been together (about 11/12 years). We are the same height; DH is slim and I’ve got soft pokey bits and that’s the way we’ve always been. He probably exercises more than me too.

I eat less because I've a smaller appetite.

@MiddleClassMother

I normally eat less that DH as I don't have a huge appetite, DH is also incredibly active so is slim despite consuming nearly 3000 calories a day.

Dh had a full medical a few years ago (early 40's at the time) and was told he should be eating 3,600 kcals a day so whilst 3,000 sounds like a lot to many there are many factors which would influence how many cals everyone should have.

The waiter always automatically gives the salad to me and steak/whatever to DH.

We have the same when we go out coffee. Dh likes hot chocolates. I like black americanos. There’s often some totally unfunny comment that goes along with the realisation that they’ve got it the wrong way round.

When I was married I'd eat about 1/6 of what he ate but then I have a gastric band.

if you have a good appetite and it will not spoil your health, then why not eat as much as your body requires? to hell with sophistication and stereotypes! I always eat little - baby portions and everyone is surprised, but I just can't take it anymore, even if I wanted to! more precisely, I want everything and always but does not climb

Eat what you want, if you’re worried about your weight reduce your portions if you’re not don’t. You don’t need to eat based on what he eats that’s mad.

I’m five eight, my husband six eleven, sometimes I eat exactly what he does, but over the course of an average day he eats more.

I have recently been trying to lose weight.Before I would share out our portions almost to the last pea! However I was feeling very full indeed and noticed that proper portion sizes are a lot less than we think! Dont men need 2,500 calories per day as an average and women 2000 or something.Anyway I only eat until I feel full now.Not keen on huge meals more of a grazer!

Your body needs less fuel than his to power itself. Personally I'd say you're overeating.

@AlexiaSox

When I dish up for me and DP, I always give us the same amount of food. Same if we eat out, e.g we'll both order our own pizza and eat the whole thing (we both have pretty good appetites), and maybe share a salad.

The thing is, he is a tall guy, over 6ft, and I am much smaller...

Neither of us are overweight but I guess I am at the very top end of healthy weight.

So my question is, AIBU and should I generally eat a slightly smaller portion than him? I hate the idea of a 'dainty woman's portion' but is it just common sense?

What do you do?

If you’re top end of a healthy weight it suggests that perhaps you are eating a bit too much.