Fat activists protest diet industry — Page 3

I used to run one of the restaurants at the Grand Canyon, which meant we had about 60% international tourist trade - and the biggest complaint, BAR NONE, was the size of the portions we were serving. People were literally embarrassed at not being able to finish everything - which would inevitably lead to a rant about how everywhere they had been in America, they had been served obscene amounts of food. And this wasn't coming from one particular group of tourists, it was coming from everyone around the world. It seems as if Americans aren't satisfied unless they have enough to throw some away - I guess that way they feel like they've been given their money's worth, or something.

It's ridiculous the amounts of food we consume when there are so many people in the world and even in our own country starving. I take my leftovers when I eat downtown and give it to a homeless person on the street usually. I hate when they ask for money, but I have no problem giving them food that would get thrown away anyways. (And I can be sure that they are getting food and not spending the money on drugs or alcohol) I also work in food pantries when I can. My church at school supports a church down in Haiti that runs a school for the underpriviledged kids down there. With the resistance and everything taking over the country, the school kids were down to one or two meals a week at school, and for most of those kids that was the only food they were getting.

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Updated On: 8/3/04 at 09:14 PM

I've been living in this country for 13 years and I still can't finish most restaurant portions. I usually share with my sister or a friend, or take appetizers instead of a main course, depending where I am. It's ridiculous, though. I realize I'm a bit on the small side (I'm 5 3"), but I shouldn't be leaving 1/3 of my food on the plate.

I agree that portions are way too big here--but I can see how people would get ticked off at McDonalds--you get less food, but pay more.

It also doesn't help that most of us grow up with grown ups harping on us to "finish our plates". And when you grow up poor, you sorta get the notion to eat as much as you can to get that money's worth--especially at a buffet.

But, that's why I avoid buffets and McDonalds.

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I love my McDonald's, but whenever I order something from there I can never finish the insane amount of fries I get.
They like to load you up. Most fast food places do.

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