A Night Out - A Good Idea?
If you're like most people you probably find yourself going out for dinner at least once a week.
I say like most people because on the occasional Friday or Saturday that I go out, every restaurant is jammed full and has a wait.
So there are a lot of folks going out.
Now there's nothing wrong with this, as a matter of fact many studies have shown that people who are more social tend to live longer, and be happier.
Here's where the rub comes in.
Regardless of the type of restaurant (expensive, Coney Island, etc) or which meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner) the average meal that you will receive will be three times larger than it should be.
Not relative to the cost (you want what you pay for and then some), but based on recommended serving sizes.
That's right, three servings in each order.
Another way to look at this is that the total amount of food you get is supposed to feed three people OR eat that amount over three meals.
Yes, one trip to the average restaurant gives you almost enough food in ONE meal to feed you for the entire day.
This doesn't even take into consideration the caloric content.
I'm talking about the literal amount of food.
My guess is that since you paid for it, you're going to try and eat as much of it as you can.
Can't say I blame anyone for that.
Exactly what percent of Americans are over weight?And why? Actually the why might surprise us.
We already know (right?) calories in, calories out, determines your weight.
I don't have any statistics to back me up on this, but I bet most people are overweight not because of what they eat as much, as how much they eat.
I had a friend who was trying to lose weight and began eating more fruits and vegetables.
A pretty good plan.
He couldn't lose a pound, so I asked him what he was eating.
He responded with, "I've eliminated all the fattening foods and any time I'm hungry I eat grapes".
How many? "Around 5 lbs a day.
"WHAT!?!?That's close to 4000 calories in grapes alone!Why so many I asked.
"Well fruits are good for you and I ate them until I was full".
Oh.
It would shock you to know how little food you actually need in a day (though I hate to say it, think "Survivor" on TV).
If eating properly (high protein, low carb, low fat) 2000 calories is a lot of food, but not enough to keep you "feeling full".
Being full is not the objective of eating.
Fueling your body and not being hungry are.
BIG difference.
There are some things you can do to help combat this push to over indulge.
First, is to share a meal.
You do see older people (the wise sector of society) do this, and it's not because they are cheap.
Second is my favorite trick, have them leave off the starchy carbs.
No thanks on the potatoe, rice and bread.
Lastly, a variation on the sharing thing, have them bring you a "doggie bag" BEFORE you eat and put half your food in it for later, before you take the first bite.
This is a VERY good tactic at Italian, Mexican, or any Asian food restaurant.
Ask yourself how many times have you had the wait staff ask if anybody would like to see the dessert tray, and everybody at the table responds "No, No, I'm too full"? So the next time you go out, after you've finished off all the complementary bread, had your soup and/or salad and the waitperson arrives with the main entree, realize that if you clean your plate you will have eaten in that meal the quantity of food that healthy fit people eat all day.
Remind me again, what percent of Americans are over weight, and why? Pass the breadsticks please.
I say like most people because on the occasional Friday or Saturday that I go out, every restaurant is jammed full and has a wait.
So there are a lot of folks going out.
Now there's nothing wrong with this, as a matter of fact many studies have shown that people who are more social tend to live longer, and be happier.
Here's where the rub comes in.
Regardless of the type of restaurant (expensive, Coney Island, etc) or which meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner) the average meal that you will receive will be three times larger than it should be.
Not relative to the cost (you want what you pay for and then some), but based on recommended serving sizes.
That's right, three servings in each order.
Another way to look at this is that the total amount of food you get is supposed to feed three people OR eat that amount over three meals.
Yes, one trip to the average restaurant gives you almost enough food in ONE meal to feed you for the entire day.
This doesn't even take into consideration the caloric content.
I'm talking about the literal amount of food.
My guess is that since you paid for it, you're going to try and eat as much of it as you can.
Can't say I blame anyone for that.
Exactly what percent of Americans are over weight?And why? Actually the why might surprise us.
We already know (right?) calories in, calories out, determines your weight.
I don't have any statistics to back me up on this, but I bet most people are overweight not because of what they eat as much, as how much they eat.
I had a friend who was trying to lose weight and began eating more fruits and vegetables.
A pretty good plan.
He couldn't lose a pound, so I asked him what he was eating.
He responded with, "I've eliminated all the fattening foods and any time I'm hungry I eat grapes".
How many? "Around 5 lbs a day.
"WHAT!?!?That's close to 4000 calories in grapes alone!Why so many I asked.
"Well fruits are good for you and I ate them until I was full".
Oh.
It would shock you to know how little food you actually need in a day (though I hate to say it, think "Survivor" on TV).
If eating properly (high protein, low carb, low fat) 2000 calories is a lot of food, but not enough to keep you "feeling full".
Being full is not the objective of eating.
Fueling your body and not being hungry are.
BIG difference.
There are some things you can do to help combat this push to over indulge.
First, is to share a meal.
You do see older people (the wise sector of society) do this, and it's not because they are cheap.
Second is my favorite trick, have them leave off the starchy carbs.
No thanks on the potatoe, rice and bread.
Lastly, a variation on the sharing thing, have them bring you a "doggie bag" BEFORE you eat and put half your food in it for later, before you take the first bite.
This is a VERY good tactic at Italian, Mexican, or any Asian food restaurant.
Ask yourself how many times have you had the wait staff ask if anybody would like to see the dessert tray, and everybody at the table responds "No, No, I'm too full"? So the next time you go out, after you've finished off all the complementary bread, had your soup and/or salad and the waitperson arrives with the main entree, realize that if you clean your plate you will have eaten in that meal the quantity of food that healthy fit people eat all day.
Remind me again, what percent of Americans are over weight, and why? Pass the breadsticks please.