Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Size Matters

 
You just finished a smallish tub of hummus, feeling virtuous you didn't finish the last bites of your kid's grilled cheese. You check the label to find you've eaten seven servings at 70 calories a pop. Not including the pita chips.

Maybe you've downed a bottle of organic juice, the kind that costs as much as a lunchtime salad, after spin class. Two servings in that bottle, 120 calories per.

Serve yourself frozen yogurt spots are a popular after school destination for lots of suburban moms and kids. It's better than a kids' scoop at 31 Flavors, right? Just 1/2 cup of a popular spot's Cake Batter clocks in at 130 calories. Bear in mind, a typical cup holds about 7 1/2 servings. Close to 1,000 calories.  No toppings.

We're having even touched on that bottle of Coke or the microwave popcorn you munched on at your desk.

Since the seventies and eighties, portions have exploded more than the national debt. The typical 1976 bagel was along the lines of a Lender's bagel, not the size of your head.

It's not always what you eat but how much. Portion size is key, whether you need to lose a substantial amount of weight, want to drop a few pounds, or still want to be able to zip that little black dress.

Visualizing serving sizes is an eye-opening experience.  The average restaurant pour of your favorite Cabernet is around 10 ounces while the typical serving for calorie count purposes is half as much.

Sophia Loren once said, "Everything you see, I owe to spaghetti." The curvaceous Italian actress likely ate 1/2 cup servings and not the three heaping cups in the average restaurant serving.

Twenty years ago, the average pizza slice was 500 calories. Today, the average slice is closer to 850. Per slice.  The turkey sandwich you ate for lunch was about 320 calories. Today, a large sub is closer to 820.  And that side of fries you ate with the Big Mac of your college years? 210 calories. Today, 610 calories.

Be aware of portion sizes. And fill out that plate with lots of leafy, green vegetables. Instead of that second slice of pizza, eat a salad.

Size matters!








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