Page 3 | AIBU To be fed up of smaller portions for women

Recycledblonde · 29/01/2022 20:23

I wish it happened to me, I would love not to have an 8oz steak, huge plate full of pasta etc. So few places do starter sized portions, I am 5 inches shorter than DH and I do not need the same sized portions as him. He quite often orders a salad in pubs whereas I never do and the staff always ask who is having the salad etc.
I'm not saying it doesn't happen but it has never happened to me, I wish it was an option on menus.

Original poster

hennaoj · 29/01/2022 20:26

It was a chippy with a restuarant, we were eating in. It tends to happen when having steak. I'm not inspecting plates but it can be really quite noticable! Of course it won't be the chef, they don't serve the food.

OP posts:

overthehillandsofaraway · 29/01/2022 20:29

@hennaoj

Fed up of constantly being given the smaller fish, steak, piece of cake in resturants than my husband, I'm taller than him! I'm not on a sodding diet and nor do I need to be on one. Today I was even given a smaller fish than my 13 year old son! Its bad enough that gluten free fish at chippys tend to be smaller anyway for whatever reason, so this ended up being miniscule than everyone elses as my 13 year old son is also a coeliac.

I'm surprised the portions in a restaurant weren't more standard, but in general, women are supposed to have smaller portions than men.

It's why a lot of women put on weight when they move in with a man - there's a tendency to divvy up portions equally, but biologically, we do need fewer calories. Unfair? Yes, but that's science.

I wish I could eat as much as a strapping 6'4" bloke, but I'd expand outwards if I did.

Simonjt · 29/01/2022 20:29

@hennaoj

It was a chippy with a restuarant, we were eating in. It tends to happen when having steak. I'm not inspecting plates but it can be really quite noticable! Of course it won't be the chef, they don't serve the food.

If it isn’t the chef, are the waiters taking food from your plate, then putting it on a mans plate before they bring your meal out? Steak, which is sold by weight.

overthehillandsofaraway · 29/01/2022 20:32

@justyoy

It has never once happened to me. I tend to find, rather, that portions are too big and wish I could order (and pay for) a half portion. When I was in hospital last year, I had the choice of 'small' or 'large' portions of each meal, which I thought was very sensible.

Agreed. I'd like to order a smaller portion too.

PriamFarrl · 29/01/2022 20:32

I have never noticed this.

When I order a pint and he has a glass of rosè though…..

Im2022 · 29/01/2022 20:32

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Cabbagepie · 29/01/2022 20:32

Have never experienced this

NellePorter · 29/01/2022 20:35

This must be very annoying if it happens often. I've eaten out a lot with my DH over the last 30 years and I've never once noticed this. But it is very rare that we order the same dish.

Mrsjayy · 29/01/2022 20:38

What are you on about this never happens anywhere you pay for food at all they don't ask the chef for "lady portions " !

Giraffesandbottoms · 29/01/2022 20:39

That’s never happened to me. Women need fewer calories than men though so maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea 😆

TheCanyon · 29/01/2022 20:40

I'd love it if all restaurants offered smaller portions. I hate feeling like I've wasted half a meal.

AutomaticMoon · 29/01/2022 20:41

Men also get longer antibiotic treatment for UTI and the short 3 day ones women get can even cause resistance, they are insufficient.

AutomaticMoon · 29/01/2022 20:42

Men get 7 days btw.

UserBotTrending · 29/01/2022 20:44

Restaurants are the one place this doesn't happen!

My mother will give my brother more than she gives me, and my son. my daughter and I will be given meagre rations though.

I used to work in a place with a canteen and a lady doled out the food. I once said to her ''why didn't I get as many chips as he did?'' she looked like she was going to murder me! Didn't get as many chips as the man ahead of me. The next day, or when I thought of it, I asked her for TWO PORTIONS OF CHIPS PLEASE and I got a normal portion.

justyoy · 29/01/2022 20:46

@TheCanyon

I'd love it if all restaurants offered smaller portions. I hate feeling like I've wasted half a meal.

Same here. I am also invariably asked whether I wasn't happy with it (not criticising the waiting staff here: they are presumably told to ask this), because I've left half of it. Yes, I was happy with it - it was absolutely fantastic - but I am a very small woman who doesn't eat the same amount as a bigger woman or a man might do!

GrandDuchessRomanov · 29/01/2022 20:51

Maybe you look very young OP?

Take it as a compliment!

godmum56 · 29/01/2022 20:52

Its ages since I have been to a restarant but aren't steak weights on the menu still? The only thing I would say is that the weight stated is uncooked so if you like a well done steak, then the portion will look smaller than the same steak cooked rare or blue.

EmpressCixi · 29/01/2022 20:54

@hennaoj

It was a chippy with a restuarant, we were eating in. It tends to happen when having steak. I'm not inspecting plates but it can be really quite noticable! Of course it won't be the chef, they don't serve the food.

But the wait staff just take the already cooked and plated food to the table. Serving the food gives you zero control over the portion size.

—- former waitress and night manager of a restaurant.

AutomaticMoon · 29/01/2022 20:55

@overthehillandsofaraway Didn’t OP say she’s taller than her DP?

AlDanvers · 29/01/2022 21:01

@hennaoj

It was a chippy with a restuarant, we were eating in. It tends to happen when having steak. I'm not inspecting plates but it can be really quite noticable! Of course it won't be the chef, they don't serve the food.

You have to be inspecting plates.

I have never known waiting staff (and I was one for long time) that even thought about portion size and who was eating it when taking food to a table. There can't be that many that do this, if any, and it happens to you alot?

The fish and meat is done on weight. Will all be pre portioned for to ensure they get maximum portions. There will be a small margin of error, that's barely visible.

I don't know how you have gone to different restaurants that not only don't do portion control AND have waiting staff that are judging what portion you should have. And it happens often?

Its not really likey. Especially if you don't inspect the plates.

Alayalaya · 29/01/2022 21:01

Women need less calories than men. Even if they’re taller. Because men have more testosterone and more muscle thus a higher metabolism. It’s well known that men need more calories, I always serve my husband a much bigger portion than myself.

Apart from that though, you said yours was gluten free. Gluten free is always smaller than ordinary food because it’s more expensive. So I don’t think it’s related to body size or sex, it’s simply that gluten free food is always smaller.

Cbtb · 29/01/2022 21:03

Steak usually sold by weight so if you both order the 8oz and yours looks like a 4oz I’d be asking why!

Though do you have well done and he has rare? In that case yours will look smaller as it’s had more liquid cooked out!

BikiniB0tt0m · 29/01/2022 21:06

I've only seen this with the older generation. I worked in a kitchen of a nursing home and an old Irish chef always use to tell me "give the men more, they need it" sorry but from what I saw alot of the time it was the women running around and men frequently on extended tea breaks.

CoalCraft · 29/01/2022 21:08

Never noticed this. In fact it's a running joke in our family that my dad is always given the smallest portion.