How Food Portions Have Changed in 20 Years: Breaking Bad Eating Habits

Ziggy · **Site Rank:** Healthy BBF

How Food Portions Have Changed in 20 Years
Cheesecake
20 Years Ago
260 Calories
3 ounces

Today
640 calories
7 ounces

Calorie Difference: 380 calories

If you play tennis for 55 minutes you will burn approximately 380 calories, based on 130 pound person.

Bagel
20 Years Ago
140 calories
3 inch diameter

Today
350 calories
6 inch diameter

Calorie Difference: 210 calories

If you rake leaves for 50 minutes you will burn approximately 210 calories, based on 130 pound person.

Cheeseburger
20 Years Ago
330 calories

Today
590 calories

Calorie Difference: 257 calories

If you lift weights for 1 hour and 30 minutes, you will burn approximately 257 calories, based on 130 pound person.

Chicken Stir Fry
20 Years Ago
435 calories
2 cups

Today
865 calories
4 and 1/2 cups

Calorie Difference: 430 calories

If you do aerobic dance for 1 hour and 5 minutes you will burn approximately 430 calories, based on 130 pound person.

Chocolate Chip Cookie
20 Years Ago
55 calories
1.5 inch diameter

Today
275 calories
3.5 inch diameter

Calorie Difference: 220 calories

If you wash the car for 1 hour and 15 minutes you will burn approximately 220 calories, based on 130 pound person.

Spaghetti and Meatballs
20 Years Ago
500 calories
1 cup spaghetti with sauce and 3 small meatballs

Today
1,025 calories
2 cups of pasta with sauce and 3 large meatballs

Calorie Difference: 525 calories

If you houseclean for 2 hours and 35 minutes, you will burn approximately 525 calories, based on 130 pound person.

Coffee
20 Years Ago
140 calories
3 inch diameter

Today
350 calories
16 ounces

Calorie Difference: 305 calories

If you walk 1 hour and 20 minutes, you will burn approximately 305 calories, based on 130 pound person.

Muffin
20 Years Ago
210 calories
1.5 ounces

Today
500 calories
4 ounces

Calorie Difference: 290 calories

If you vacuum for 1 hour and 30 minutes you will burn approximately 290 calories, based on 130 pound person.

French Fries
20 Years Ago
210 Calories
2.4 ounces

Today
610 Calories
6.9 ounces

Calorie Difference: 400 Calories

If you walk leisurely for 1 hour and 10 minutes you will burn approximately 400 calories, based on 160 pound person.

Soda
20 Years Ago
85 Calories
6.5 ounces

Today
250 Calories
20 ounces

Calorie Difference: 165 Calories

If you work in the garden for 35 minutes, you will burn approximately 165 calories, based on 160 pound person.

Turkey Sandwich
20 Years Ago
320 calories

Today
820 calories

Calorie Difference: 500 Calories

If you ride a bike for 1 hour and 25 minutes, you will burn approximately 500 calories, based on 160 pound person.

Pepperoni Pizza
20 Years Ago
500 calories

Today
850 calories

Calorie Difference: 350 calories

If you play golf (while walking and carrying your clubs) for 1 hour you will burn approximately 350 calories, based on 160 pound person.

Chicken Caesar Salad
20 Years Ago
390 calories
1 and 1/2 cups

Today
790 calories
3 and 1/2 cups

Calorie Difference: 400 Calories

If you walk the dog for 1 hour and 20 minutes, you will burn approximately 400 calories, based on 160 pound person.

Popcorn
20 Years Ago
210 calories
5 cups

Today
630 calories
11 cups

Calorie Difference: 360 Calories

If you do water aerobics for 1 hour and 15 minutes you will burn approximately 360 calories, based on 160 pound person.

Source:
Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/portion/keep.htm

tammy · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

Wow, everything is so much greater now and that difference is only from 20 years ago? No wonder America has an obesity problem. We as a nation need to start eating better!

Ziggy · **Site Rank:** Healthy BBF

Yeah, they give us bigger proportions and charge us more money. So we get fat, and they get rich!! Not funny, huh?

tammy · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

I think when people go out and eat and pay for the food, they don't want to waste the money that they spent so they feel obligated to eat the entire portion they are served... even if it is waaaaaay more than they need to be eating!

Ziggy · **Site Rank:** Healthy BBF

Yep, that's true. It's nice though, when the serving size is big enough to bring half of it home and eat it the next night. That's 2 meals for the price of one, which makes it not so expensive, and not waaaaaay more than they need to be eating!

tammy · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

Ziggy wrote:

Yep, that's true. It's nice though, when the serving size is big enough to bring half of it home and eat it the next night. That's 2 meals for the price of one, which makes it not so expensive, and not waaaaaay more than they need to be eating!

Yes, it is nice to have large serving sizes IF you stop eating and bring half home... I'm not sure a lot of people do that though!

joebert · **Site Rank:** Moderator

It's the marketing peoples and psychologists fault.

Y's Guy · **Site Rank:** Moderator

I think Joebert is right... I think our society has bought into the idea that bigger is always better... That is why the super-sizes and biggie-sizes and king-sizes are out there! Let's offer people more food with no substance so they get their "money's worth" instead of less food of a higher quality that will actually keep you full and healthy. I think we as Americans, "The Land of the Free," have literally gotten soft... no longer are we in control of our own meals. I think our food choices are anything but, "Our way" Until we take back control of our diet, we will be the land of the fat and our children will not know what it is like to be free from fast-food and poor meal choices!

HealthyPals · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

I think it is easy for fast food companies to have biggie sizes and super sizes because the junky food is a lot cheaper than the healthier food. It is all about making money for them! They don't care that you are putting a bunch of empty calories in your belly!

Y's Guy · **Site Rank:** Moderator

The saddest part about it is you usually feel hungry 30 minutes later and you think to yourself... I should have got something more... encouraging you to increase your order next time your are there!

tammy · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

Y's Guy wrote:

The saddest part about it is you usually feel hungry 30 minutes later and you think to yourself... I should have got something more... encouraging you to increase your order next time your are there!

I agree 100 percent on this!!! Well about the feeling hungry part still. I wouldn't want to order anything more though because I already know I'm eating too much in the first place! For example, I used to get the Big Mac meal at McDonald's every now and then and have realized that when I am done eating it, I never feel full!

Y's Guy · **Site Rank:** Moderator

it is because there isn't enough nutrients to satisfy your body's tank... it taste good, so it satisfies your body's craving for pleasure... often when we fail to plan we plan to fail... eating junk is a classic example... How about if we seek our pleasure in other things and leave out the emotional eating and eat to fuel our body... the cravings begin to go away... every now and then you treat yourself, but not every night and not in the biggie serving sizes. You'll probably find that you are then being satisfied in all areas, not hungry all the time and happier with life. Way too often though we get trapped by the instant gratification of fast food to satisfy our pleasure while sacrificing our body's needs.

tammy · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

That makes sense. That's probably why I don't feel satisfied after eating it.. because my body is still craving the nutrients that the Big Mac Meal did not give me!

Y's Guy · **Site Rank:** Moderator

Plus they get you to add more to your diet by giving you free stuff... free breadsticks when you buy a pizza... before a pizza was a lot... now get a free order of breadstick... You think I'll just have the leftover pizza for lunch... before you know it you finish the pizza and breadsticks before the end of the night... then you finish it in one setting... it is a horrible cycle that I have been caught up in on more than on occasion!!! Free now can make you pay way more later!!!

tammy · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

I know what you mean. I just happened to notice what Arby's was advertising on their sign as I drove by their restaurant last night. It said:

Quote:

"Wednesday only... get a free Orange Cream Swirl shake with any sandwich purchase."

There you go. Giving away free unhealthy things to go with your already unhealthy meal!

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