When portion sizes don't make sense
#16
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,028
#17
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Beacon Falls, CT, USA
Posts: 1,609
If I go to a new restaurant, and don't know about their portion size (or how the food looks - important info!) I nosily look at the plates of people who already have their food as I am taken to my table. That gives me some ballpark estimates to work from. Huge plates/tiny portions/heavily battered fried food/wimpy pasta, etc.
#19
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Southern California
Programs: DL: 3.8 MM, Marriott: Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 24,575
I was cooking some corn meal the other day and while waiting for it, I noticed the serving size was 3 tablespoons.
Hell, I spill that much just dishing it into the bowl.
Hell, I spill that much just dishing it into the bowl.
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Programs: Frontier Gold, DL estranged 1MMer, Spirit VIP, CO/NW/UA/AA once gold/plat/comped gold now dust.
Posts: 38,176
How about ice cream? I think you're supposed to get around 14 or so servings out of that half-gallon.
On the other side of the coin, there's Buca di Beppo. Maybe they were inspired by that spaghetti scene with Ringo's mother from "Magical Mystery Tour."
On the other side of the coin, there's Buca di Beppo. Maybe they were inspired by that spaghetti scene with Ringo's mother from "Magical Mystery Tour."
#25
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Georgia and Manila, PH
Programs: NW Gold Elite, DL, HH, Victoria Court Select Member
Posts: 637
I am routinely forced to order two meals when in Asia. They look at me like I'm such a pig. I will say, many places in the Asian market that are frequented by tourist do offer larger portions. One good example of this was a small "Mexican" restaurant we visited in Bangkok, Thailand. The tacos were HUGE!
#26
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,716
I seem to recall the the FDA requirement for food labeling was going to change to fix this. Most consumers don't pay much attention to what they eat and don't vote based on it so it makes it pretty easy for the food lobby to do things like this, at least for a while, and get away with it. It's just a way to make your product more appealing. The lobbyists in this country have much more power than the electorate. To give another example, a few consumer friendly lobbyists have been trying to get legislation passed that would explain how much it would cost you if you just paid the bare minimum on your credit card bill every month. Every time this has been attempted, the credit card lobby has killed it. The money rules. The 2 servings per container is an example of it. In this case though, it's likely to soon come to an end.
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 13,145