The Cellar - View Single Post - For portion control, look to the container

Stormieweather · 08-01-2006, 05:11 PM

I think there is some deliberate obfuscation in manufacturer's packaging that makes it harder to determine what you are eating/drinking.

Say I look at a bottle of SoBe and it says, 120 calories, 31 sugars and 32 carbs. Oh! Thats not too bad, I think I'll drink it. But in smaller print it says '"servings per container - 2.5".

So, if I drink the whole thing (20 fl oz), I'm taking in 300 calories, 77.5 sugars and 80 carbs. Now your 'healthy' drink isn't looking nearly as good. Another tricky one is something like Rice A Roni...lets use Cajun Chicken as an example. It says, Calories 180, Fat .05g, Sodium 1010mg , and 6g of Protein. Then you look a little closer and realize it says in tiny letters, "As packaged". Like anyone would eat it dry, from the box!! A wee asterisk directs you to the bottom of the box where it says, "When Prepared as Directed - Calories 250, Fat 8g (!!), Sodium 40g, and 6g of Protein. Much, much different.

I use the deck of cards/tennis ball method of measuring portions. 1 serving of meat should equal the size of a deck of cards and pasta's and other carbs should be the size of a tennis ball. I simply stay away from fast food...If I wish to indulge, I'll go to a nice, well rounded buffet where I can pick and choose my sins.

Stormie

08-01-2006, 05:11 PM	#30
Stormieweather Wearing her bitch boots Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Floriduh Posts: 1,181	I think there is some deliberate obfuscation in manufacturer's packaging that makes it harder to determine what you are eating/drinking. Say I look at a bottle of SoBe and it says, 120 calories, 31 sugars and 32 carbs. Oh! Thats not too bad, I think I'll drink it. But in smaller print it says '"servings per container - 2.5". So, if I drink the whole thing (20 fl oz), I'm taking in 300 calories, 77.5 sugars and 80 carbs. Now your 'healthy' drink isn't looking nearly as good. Another tricky one is something like Rice A Roni...lets use Cajun Chicken as an example. It says, Calories 180, Fat .05g, Sodium 1010mg , and 6g of Protein. Then you look a little closer and realize it says in tiny letters, "As packaged". Like anyone would eat it dry, from the box!! A wee asterisk directs you to the bottom of the box where it says, "When Prepared as Directed - Calories 250, Fat 8g (!!), Sodium 40g, and 6g of Protein. Much, much different. I use the deck of cards/tennis ball method of measuring portions. 1 serving of meat should equal the size of a deck of cards and pasta's and other carbs should be the size of a tennis ball. I simply stay away from fast food...If I wish to indulge, I'll go to a nice, well rounded buffet where I can pick and choose my sins. Stormie __________________ "First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." - Mahatma Gandhi