Do they eat more or just put more on their plate?
mimi
Mimi,
Both actually. About six months back I meticulously weighed out 2 oz person (dry weight, rotini). I served in the bowls I normally use, which is a standard cereal bowl. It looked like a child's portion. But I served it anyway, with a side salad of mixed baby greens, apples, and feta. It didn't look like enough and it wasn't. I learned when the potion looks small, you eat more because psychologically you feel deprived.
That extra ounce of pasta in the bowl isn't necessarily that much more filling, but psychologically it is significantly more satiating by virtue of its size. It made me realize the complexity of eating--there's a lot more meaning to the saying "we eat with our eyes first."
A bit off topic here, but a segue into the next thought on portion....diet for weight loss was the reason I meticulously weighed the pasta. Portion size is often cited as a cause for increased obesity. I certainly believe it plays a role, but I'm not convinced it is the overwhelming factor in obesity. I think the move away from whole foods to processed foods and a sedentary work and overall lifestyle are the major contributing factors.
When I adhere to a whole food diet and workout six days a week, I'll easily consume 3500-4000 calories a day. Yet my weight will maintain at 112 pounds. If I drop my caloric intake to 1200 - 1500 calories per day and consume foods high carbs and sugar, my weight will balloon to nearly 200 pounds--even with regular, but not extremely strenuous exercise. My son, a powerlifter and coach, insists calories in calories out. Which is really about portion to expended energy. But I find the quality of those calories makes the difference between 112 pounds and 200 pounds!
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