Sunday, August 9, 2009

Update and thoughts on containers

A bit of a loss this week. I'm happy with that as I am sure I've built up some muscle. I've kicked up the training now and I am actually running - not just walking.

I also had a bit of a surprise this week - along the lines of eating food out of containers.

Most of us will have, at one point, read that as a general rule we shouldn't eat food directly out of a container - be it takeaway or the leftovers you packed for lunch. I have always been a little blase about this, but not so much any more.

During the week I found myself without a home made lunch one day, so I went to the local cafe and bought some takeaway noodles. I bought a small, which I always figured was a pretty modest serving. On this day, I decided to dump it on a plate instead of eating it out of the container... and I am glad I did.

The "modest serving" I thought was in the container was actually a mounded bowlful. it was more that I'd usually serve myself if I was making myself a meal. I had never really considered just how much portion distortion could apply to a takeaway container - especially if it's been crammed full to bursting point.

The same also applies to a container of packed lunch: in the container it can look small and insignificant, but once you put it on a plate or in a bowl you'll see how much is really there. It's not so much of an issue if you are pre-weighing what you pack (something that is pretty much required if you are counting your kilojoules), but if you're going by eye, you could be eating more than you think.

I can't wait to see just how big the salads from the local salad-bar place actually are...

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