Discussion America needs to start getting back into shape. It's starting to look embarrassing.

[Stiff Clamp]

Round is a shape.

 

[purbeast0]

This is why you always always split the middle seat until someone absolutely tries to sit your aisle, especially an airline like Southwest.

We were doing that and then she asked if someone was sitting in the middle and I scooted over so both of us wouldn't have to suffer. But they told us prior too that the flight was going to be full so I knew someone was going to eventually be there.

 

[Torn Mind]

Maybe, but that doesn't mean they have to serve a $20 half-pound burger to make a living. If they can't make rent at $10 a plate, maybe we need to re-evaluate how we get food in mouths.

Commercial rent is not forgiving to small scale restaurants. The turnover in places like College Park, MD is routine. Everyone charges commercial space more. Higher taxes, higher rents, and the equipment too. The big established chain stores survive but the smaller ones have mostly changed.

Even McDonalds menu items are over priced for what one get compared to DIY prep. I can get a pound of ground beef for less than the price of a "quarter-pounder".

Even if portion sizes shrink, ignorance might simply lead people to spend double to get what they were eating before without internalizing good advice. Given heart disease, cancer, gum disease, and other illness are asymptomatic until later in life, people don't give a damn until then. I myself only changed things up because of a health wake-up call via teeth, and I did not eat restaurant food very frequently.

 

[Captante]

Commercial rent is not forgiving to small scale restaurants. The turnover in places like College Park, MD is routine. Everyone charges commercial space more. Higher taxes, higher rents, and the equipment too. The big established chain stores survive but the smaller ones have mostly changed.

Even McDonalds menu items are over priced for what one get compared to DIY prep. I can get a pound of ground beef for less than the price of a "quarter-pounder".

Even if portion sizes shrink, ignorance might simply lead people to spend double to get what they were eating before without internalizing good advice. Given heart disease, cancer, gum disease, and other illness are asymptomatic until later in life, people don't give a damn until then. I myself only changed things up because of a health wake-up call via teeth, and I did not eat restaurant food very frequently.

Nearly 70% of new restaurants fail during their first three years including quite a few that are initially successful .... its a tough business.

 

[Torn Mind]

I think you misunderstand me.... I would NEVER say "put the fork down" (or anything else mean like that) and none of what I posted was directed at you personally.

There's a HUGE difference between being mean and belittling people over something and not just staying silent because its easier and won't hurt anyone's feelings.

People who do that kind of thing are not being "nice" or "discreet" by keeping quiet and are not actually your friends.

Having said that, if I did hurt your feelings I sincerely apologize.

Food consumption is more hormonal and "semi-automatic". Sex drive can be completely killed by remove the sex organs. "Food drive" can be reduced by reducing the cycle of releasing insulin and then it dropping hours later; the hypothalamus then signals hunger due .

Increasing the "collective demand" for food is what the food industry, and by extension the government that collects taxes on that food. Sugars and starches increase appetite in at two ways. The hormonal "crash" is one. The other is increasing appetite at the moment of eating. Making foods more palatable can be considered a third method; it certainly makes chocolate more palatable.

In fact, even non-sexual, non-food products like tech get bought on based on "visceral" and not-exactly-rational temptations to buy.

It's really odd. People prattle about calories-in, calories-out but apparently cannot grasp that manipulating the variable is not strictly mechanical thinking....

 

[Captante]

"Food drive" can be reduced by reducing the cycle of releasing insulin and then it dropping hours later; the hypothalamus then signals hunger due .

Sugars and starches increase appetite in at two ways. The hormonal "crash" is one. The other is increasing appetite at the moment of eating.

This has become abundantly clear to me over the last year... I've been getting on top of my too-long ignored health (or lack thereof!) and trying to avoid excessive sugar/salt/assorted garbage-carbs, calories and multi-syllable chemical additives in food ain't freaking easy!

Fact is that I had weight problems as a kid myself and spent MANY years eating as much as I wanted of ANYTHING I felt like having as an adult (while partying constantly too) which resulted in me weighing up to 256(!!) at one point which for me is huge.

I'm at a healthy weight for me now at approx 175 lbs but my health has suffered as a result of the many years of self-abuse and poor diet... and it was my CHOICES that led me to where I am today not "the bad people over there".

 

[balloonshark]

What is a dingling?

I believe it's on the opposite side of his 'but cheeks'.

 

[Number1]

First world problem.

Next.

 

[Captante]

First world problem.

Next.

Lets move on to stupid tasteless (and dated) famine-related jokes!


Q: What's the fastest animal on the face of the earth?

A: An Ethiopian chicken!


*(I'll see my way out now)

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

Commercial rent is not forgiving to small scale restaurants. The turnover in places like College Park, MD is routine. Everyone charges commercial space more. Higher taxes, higher rents, and the equipment too. The big established chain stores survive but the smaller ones have mostly changed.

So maybe the focus should be on the food, and not the 'experience'. Food trucks don't cost nearly as much as an entire restaurant. A lot easier to move where the business is good as well.

Just saying, something's gotta give. Right now it's our health. If you started cutting portions in half, everyone would get healthier, and you'd probably see a bunch of businesses go out of business. So maybe flip it, offer govt subsidies if it's just completely non-workable, and raise our taxes instead, so we'll buy our own good health.

I dunno what the answer is, but continuing to offer 1200kcal portion sizes because $20+ servings is the only way to make ends meet isn't it.

 

[Captante]

I dunno what the answer is, but continuing to offer 1200kcal portion sizes because $20+ servings is the only way to make ends meet isn't it.

Unfortunately a lot of folks would just order up two servings if they were substantially smaller .... or worse (from the restaurants perspective) they'll head over to the competition that didn't halve their portion sizes!

 

[deadlyapp]

We were doing that and then she asked if someone was sitting in the middle and I scooted over so both of us wouldn't have to suffer. But they told us prior too that the flight was going to be full so I knew someone was going to eventually be there.

next time look meaner.

 

[nakedfrog]

So maybe the focus should be on the food, and not the 'experience'. Food trucks don't cost nearly as much as an entire restaurant. A lot easier to move where the business is good as well.

Just saying, something's gotta give. Right now it's our health. If you started cutting portions in half, everyone would get healthier, and you'd probably see a bunch of businesses go out of business. So maybe flip it, offer govt subsidies if it's just completely non-workable, and raise our taxes instead, so we'll buy our own good health.

I dunno what the answer is, but continuing to offer 1200kcal portion sizes because $20+ servings is the only way to make ends meet isn't it.

To bring this one up again, why is it that Dick's Drive-In can offer $19/hour, a $28k scholarship benefit, childcare assistance, and 100% employer-paid health insurance, and still charge me $2.50 for a cheeseburger? But other fast food places... can't?

3_EMPLOYMENT - Dick's Drive In

www.ddir.com

(And it's UP to $2.50 now, they were cheaper in the very recent past)

 

[Captante]

To bring this one up again, why is it that Dick's Drive-In can offer $19/hour, a $28k scholarship benefit, childcare assistance, and 100% employer-paid health insurance, and still charge me $2.50 for a cheeseburger? But other fast food places... can't?

3_EMPLOYMENT - Dick's Drive In

www.ddir.com

(And it's UP to $2.50 now, they were cheaper in the very recent past)

Don't be absurd.... if THAT sort of thing became wide-spread it would just tank our profits!

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

Unfortunately a lot of folks would just order up two servings if they were substantially smaller .... or worse (from the restaurants perspective) they'll head over to the competition that didn't halve their portion sizes!

Sure, you'll lose some of the overt morons that willingly kill themselves with excess. It saves the ignorant though who believe 'a portion means I should eat the portion' though.

 

[Captante]

Sure, you'll lose some of the overt morons that willingly kill themselves with excess. It saves the ignorant though who believe 'a portion means I should eat the portion' though.

Don't underestimate the number of morons out there!

(also there are people that like to bring home lunch for tomorrow in a "doggie-bag" who are sometimes even not morons!)

From my perspective I don't eat out all that much and when I do it's not to eat healthy, it's to get something I can't easily make at home, is EXACTLY what I'm hungry for AND to snarf down a big pile of it!

You mentioned people not wanting a "$20" menu-item and that's true price is very often a factor when folks choose where to eat out.

Problem is I find that when the meal-size is reduced most places DON'T actually reduce the prices accordingly. (or at all)

 

[nakedfrog]

Sure, you'll lose some of the overt morons that willingly kill themselves with excess. It saves the ignorant though who believe 'a portion means I should eat the portion' though.

Some people still have to overcome culturally-provided expectations too, I grew up with people that were required to eat everything on their plate, and even one of my son's friends that was over at our house a few years ago felt obligated to eat an entire slice of cake out of politeness, because it had been offered. Other people need to overcome feelings induced by times of food scarcity in their past. There are so many factors that go in, that's why I think it's harmfully reductive to simply couch it as "people are just making choices"--this casts aside the fact that some of these choices aren't conscious, and that we don't all get offered the same choices.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

Some people still have to overcome culturally-provided expectations too, I grew up with people that were required to eat everything on their plate, and even one of my son's friends that was over at our house a few years ago felt obligated to eat an entire slice of cake out of politeness, because it had been offered. Other people need to overcome feelings induced by times of food scarcity in their past. There are so many factors that go in, that's why I think it's harmfully reductive to simply couch it as "people are just making choices"--this casts aside the fact that some of these choices aren't conscious, and that we don't all get offered the same choices.

I was raised that way, because what was on your plate for dinner might represent you coasting through breakfast. Nobody in my house threw away food, that was money down the drain. Portioning was also not encouraged, and so I learned that a lot later (after gaining a lot of weight as an adult).

Humans are instinctual animals, and as with most animals, we eat what's in front of us because we don't know where our next meal will come from. Put less in front of us and we tend to lose weight. I'd bet dollars to donuts if you did nothing else for most people, you'd have more success doing that than any other diet or workout regimen.

 

[Captante]

Some people still have to overcome culturally-provided expectations too, I grew up with people that were required to eat everything on their plate, and even one of my son's friends that was over at our house a few years ago felt obligated to eat an entire slice of cake out of politeness, because it had been offered. Other people need to overcome feelings induced by times of food scarcity in their past. There are so many factors that go in, that's why I think it's harmfully reductive to simply couch it as "people are just making choices"--this casts aside the fact that some of these choices aren't conscious, and that we don't all get offered the same choices.

I made BOTH my daughters eat their veggies... salads too!

(I'm SO mean!)

They were allowed to pass on my home-made french-fries or mac & cheese etc and dessert was also fully optional though! (harsh but fair?)

Bear in mind it was a rare day when we had any issues because if you know how to cook veggies can be delicious and I pretty much only made the kinds I knew both girls would eat!

There's a big difference between forcing your kid to over-eat or to down something they hate and/or might be allergic to and telling them that if they have room for chocolate ice-cream they need to finish off their broccoli first.

 

[nakedfrog]

I made BOTH my daughters eat their veggies... salads too!

(I'm SO mean!)

They were allowed to pass on my home-made french-fries or mac & cheese etc and dessert was also fully optional though! (harsh but fair?)

Bear in mind it was a rare day when we had any issues because if you know how to cook veggies can be delicious and I pretty much only made the kinds I knew both girls would eat!

There's a big difference between forcing your kid to over-eat or to down something they hate and/or might be allergic to and telling them that if they have room for chocolate ice-cream they need to finish off their broccoli first.

Forcing your kid to over-eat is Midwest culture.

 

[Captante]

Forcing your kid to over-eat is Midwest culture.

Actually it really IS an American thing.... if you look at what "suggested" portions of most foods are compared to what you'll be served in an average restaurant here they're often at least double and sometimes triple (or more) the serving-size they should be to be "healthy".

OTOH when I go out to eat I WANT a huge portion of quality food for my money as I mentioned above and I'm pretty sure most people agree. (which is part of the problem!)

 

[purbeast0]

Actually it really IS an American thing.... if you look at what "suggested" portions of most foods are compared to what you'll be served in an average restaurant here they're often at least double and sometimes triple (or more) the serving-size they should be to be "healthy".

I would disagree it's just an American thing.

My wife's family is Nicaraguan and the portion sizes her family serves people at gatherings is unreal. And they aren't just Nicaraguan in background and born American. My wife came here when she was like 13 and her mom didn't come here until she was like in her 40's.

I remember when my mother in law watched our son and the portion sizes she would give a 2 year old like WTF. Like a full bowl of mac and cheese that I could finish. And then wonder why there is like 75% still left in the bowl.

Also when I was in Nicaragua for a week long ago, my wife's grand mother was serving me steak and eggs at like 6am every morning lol. Like full sized portions.

But, I do think that we definitely have a cultural problem as a whole that other countries don't. Also in those other countries like Nicaragua, being fat truly is a sign of being more well off than those who aren't. That definitely isn't the case in USA.

OTOH when I go out to eat I WANT a huge portion of quality food for my money as I mentioned above and I'm pretty sure most people agree. (which is part of the problem!)

I also disagree with this. I hate when I have huge portions and have to take food home. When I see a huge portion size on my plate it kind of grosses me out. And then when I'm full, I will just try to eat as much as I can usually because it's in front of me. Then the server comes around asking you if you want desert after asking for a doggy bag, like you have room for desert.

I MUCH prefer eating at a restaurant and having a smaller portion size where I can enjoy it and clean my plate and not feel like a disgusting pig, and still have room for desert. This is typically the experience at finer dining restaurants over lower quality ones.

I cannot STAND the Cheesecake Factory yet I know so many people (who don't really eat out much) who love it because of how much variety they have and how large their portions are. I can't stand it for that exact reason. I want the menu I'm looking at to have like 5-6 entrees to pick from and a handful of appetizers. I'd prefer the menu to be just one side of a sheet of paper. The Cheesecake Factory menu is like a Game of Thrones book.

 

[nakedfrog]

Actually it really IS an American thing.... if you look at what "suggested" portions of most foods are compared to what you'll be served in an average restaurant here they're often at least double and sometimes triple (or more) the serving-size they should be to be "healthy".

OTOH when I go out to eat I WANT a huge portion of quality food for my money as I mentioned above and I'm pretty sure most people agree. (which is part of the problem!)

Yeah, I learned a lot on my way down from 300 lbs. A meal at a restaurant for me almost inevitably includes bringing home leftovers now. I'd be fine with paying less and getting less, but there are exceptions, like teriyaki joints out here that will give you extra chicken for just a few dollars (and I fucking love Seattle-style teriyaki).

 

[sdifox]

What is a dingling?

Penis for the ones born in 1994.

 

[Torn Mind]

Nearly 70% of new restaurants fail during their first three years including quite a few that are initially successful .... its a tough business.

The investment advice is also "don't do it" when it comes to people with deep pockets and restaurants, but athletes often get persuaded(de facto swindled) into supporting a restaurant through a circle of connections.

My mom's brother/ half-brother used to run an Chinese restaurant operation on Long Island. Underreporting of income and working that vegetable oil until it's utter toast were part of business. That restaurant was successful but is long gone, he died in his 50s sometime in the late 80s/early 90s, before my mom had to commit to moving to Maryland due to marrying my dad.

Mom did build up a bit of a stash through waitressing, but most of the gains was from some extreme hardcore frugality having grown up in "The Great Leap Forward" and other genius plans of Mao.

When I worked at DOminos, me being the goody-two-shoes would always report the actual tips I made and sometimes if they were high, my first manager would literally put in a lower number.