So the subject of Monday's WW meeting was portion distortion. There was our leader, Dee and she ask "who likes wine?". Hands shot in the air. She then held up 2 different glasses, one was a wine glass and one looked like an Irish coffee type glass mug. "Which one would you rather drink your wine out of?". Well I felt safe with my choice for a few reasons, #1 it was a wine glass and I'm a purest, and #2 - the other one looked much bigger and I felt that I was making the responsible choice. So the outcome?
SHOCKER! She filled up the Irish coffee mug with water and then poured it into the wine glass. Exactly the same! Really!!! They held the exact same amount of liquid. The she took out a prop plate with food on it and it looked full, a healthy meal. Then she pulled out a larger plate with the same amount of food and it really looked different.
I have heard before that when you use a larger vessel, we want to fill it up. We've all been there. Using the big 6 cup bowl you serve a family salad in for an ice cream bowl. Or a cereal bowl.
By using smaller plates and bowls we can actually trick ourselves into thinking we're eating more. We also, as Americans, are used to eating out and getting these plates just over flowing with food. We have been conditioned into thinking that we need all of that. We want to get the most for our money - but holy cow. One shouldn't eat 6 cups of french fries or a sandwich with 2 pounds of roast beef.
Bigger isn't always better, and I for one can say that I am now teaching myself to take my time when I'm eating and let myself tell me when I'm full.
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