K-State Research and Extension

Food Portions and Super Sized Meals

Oversized mugs, 11-inch dinner plates, jumbo muffin tins, and super soup/pasta bowls are becoming the norm. So what’s the big deal, you might ask.

Most people will fill their plate with food. A standard size dinner plate is 9 inches in diameter, so the 2-inch difference of the larger plate allows you to consume 50% more food if you fill your plate and eat until it is empty.

The USDA has established recommended serving sizes and most marketplace portions are at least twice as large as these standards. Some portions are up to eight times greater than the standard.

 Portion Sizes - Then and Now

Types and proportions of food choices to make

Larger portions of food, unhealthy food choices and less physical activity all contribute to serious health problems we have in America. There are things we can do to stop and reverse this trend. Here are some tips for managing your plate.

• Learn to read food labels
• Adopt the “half-in-a-box” practice
• Share a meal when eating out
• Compare marketplace portions to recommended serving sizes
• Repackage supersize bags
• Use a smaller plate
• Slow down!