Portion Control for Obesity Control

Americans don’t like limits. Manifest Destiny. No limit Texas hold ‘em. Supersize me. Most US states are several times larger than European countries. The all-you-can-eat buffet is an uniquely American event. My favorite bagel shop serves bagels that can be used as spare tires with slabs of cream cheese the size of cinder blocks. Never is this predilection to excess more apparent than on our plates and our waists. During your next meal, take a good look. How much of your plate can you see?

The removal of trans fats, calorie counts and a tax on sugary drinks are all directed towards getting people to eat healthier and reduce caloric intake, but we are nibbling at the edges. All well and good but the bottom line is that we eat too much. And this isn’t good. We could blame our grand and great grand parents, who having survived famine, strived to ensure that their offspring never had to face such hardship. We should thank them and pass on seconds. Is the problem kids playing video games? When I was a kid we played monopoly, it didn’t make us fat. We need to have smaller portions at home and at restaurants. The responsibility for obesity is on us, literally and figuratively.

So how do you eat less food? Don’t be fooled by that lingering sensation of hunger even though you’ve just polished off a bowl of pasta. Drink some water. Let the food land before you reach for another bite. By waiting five or ten minutes you’ll realize that hunger has left the table, and you should too.