Tanisha, I think you're absolutely right: restaurants are out to make us fat. But do you know who I think is to blame?
Us.
I'm sure restaurants would love nothing more to give us tiny portions and charge us a ton for them. But if they did, they know that most of us would just go to the restaurant next door.
Too many people feel cheated by reasonable-sized portions. We think of "value" as meaning a lot of food for a little money."
At the fast food joints, the "meal deals" are designed to make sure we order fries and a sugary soft drink with our burger; it's how we get "value." Next time just order the burger! When the order-taker asks you if you want the "meal deal," remember that what she's really saying is, "Would you like an extra 600 calories with that?"
That's why I think the a la carte "value/dollar" menus can actually be helpful. You can order a little dollar burger, you can ask for water, and if you really need the fries you can get the dollar size.
Voila! You've spent two bucks instead of five, and you've also only consumed a fraction of the calories you otherwise would have!
Until we start thinking of food quality - instead of quantity - as providing "value," I'm afraid you're going to keep having the same problem in restaurants.
You and I know gaining weight means bigger clothes. It just takes so much out of you when you are large. My bladder was so crowded when I was 105 pounds heavier. My knees are shot. My blood pressure was high and rising. My blood sugar was pre-diabetic range. And all because I stopped too many times to eat at McDonald's or Wendy's.
I count it as a blessing that I do not frequent those establishments any more!
