Can you eat three course meals anymore?

[Arlanymor]

I used to be able to, but these days no way would I manage both a starter and a pudding and sometimes I can’t even finish my main. I don’t have any dietary issues and I’m not watching my weight (although probably should be!) but I just can’t manage it anymore.

I tend to eat tapas more and more because then I don’t run the risk of wasting anything. But even if I am really hungry, I just can’t manage much more than one course, unless the starter is a salad or something similarly light. I’m 45.

I can’t at a restaurant but I could easily eat the same volume of food at home. I think it’s because I’m too busy chatting and the food is richer.

I'm finding I'm starting to not really want to eat as late either, I would be perfectly happy with a big meal at lunch and yoghurt if necessary in the evening, which is so unlike me.

@SpringOfContentment I said I have a line in my tummy which the main course one is full but there’s a gap for the pudding.

I think it's portion sizes OP. I used to go to Beefeater and eat a 6oz rump or an 8oz sirloin. Now you're more likely to be offered 10oz steaks you can upgrade! You don't just get a piece of chicken. It's usually a half chicken or comes with ribs and bottomless fries.

You can't just get an ice cream - it's all sundaes with cream and cake in.

It's because food is the cheapest part of a meal out. They increase size and lower quality but can charge far more. And some people have been brought up on this sizing and will happily snarfle three courses wondering why they are the size they are. A meal out now could easily be 3000 calories or more.

My DC is a really healthy weight for their height. But in restaurants will often eat only half of the food offered because they're full. We taught them that they didn't need to eat any more once they were full and it's quite shocking how little they eat compared to modern food portion sizes.

Berni Inn? Circa 1983? Yes!

Wish my appetite would diminish! I can definitely eat three courses.

Maybe it depends on what kind of restaurant - if it was a American BBQ type place or pub with generous portions and sides then I perhaps couldn’t or wouldn’t want to. But Italian or any kind of “modern british” I definitely can.

Sadly my metabolism has slowed so I ought to eat less, but my appetite is the same.