COLUMN: Americans, suffer from hunger, laziness, guilt
Americans are eating too much.
A man came into TGIFridays for dinner. I brought him a soda and took his order. Within five minutes I delivered eight buffalo wings to him for an appetizer. After the bones had been picked dry, I delivered his salad with extra salad dressing. Within 15 minutes of taking his order, I delivered his main entr̩e Рthe Triple Jack Combo which included a half a rack of ribs, a chicken breast, six shrimp, mashed potatoes and onion rings.
I waited on my other tables throughout this time. I kept my eye on the man so I would know when he was through – I figured it would be soon because he had already consumed so much.
The next scene I will never forget. I glanced over at the man. He had just finished the very last bite on his plate; his dish was wiped clean. He scooted his chair back slightly and proceeded to lift his belly onto the edge of the table. He then rubbed his hands across his belly.
“I think he’s full now,” I whispered to a fellow employee.
I have been a waitress at TGIFridays for the past two summers. Every time I work, I am amazed at the quantity of food people inhale: an appetizer, a salad or soup, a huge main entrée and sometimes a dessert.
You’ve probably eaten at enough restaurants to know the servings are usually quite large. As I serve other people, I always wonder how they pack it all in. I would be full at least after the salad or soup.
I realize some people just have big appetites, but I wonder if there is another cause.
I think it all begins because people are lazy. Avoiding restaurant portions would be easy if you never felt like eating out. Instead, we find ourselves starved and lazy and in a restaurant.
It is much easier to avoid the hassle of cooking the food followed by the hassle of washing the dishes. Why not just go to a restaurant and be served?
The problem comes once you are seated, menu in hand.
I know sometimes when I go out to eat and I am extremely hungry, my eyes end up being larger than my stomach and I order more food than I can eat. Maybe others do the same.
Another cause may come because after you’ve ordered all that food you feel some sort of obligation to finish everything on your plate.
I know when I haven’t finished everything on my plate, the person across from me says, “How can you waste all that food when there are starving kids in China?”
So I’ve gotten into a habit of not wasting food and wanting to finish everything on my plate. Maybe most Americans suffer from the same pattern of behavior.
The same guilt might also come into play when you don’t finish everything on your plate and people poke fun at you, saying, “Oh, you’re not as hungry as you thought, huh?” or “What? You can’t finish that last bite?” This also causes guilt and could make you want to eat everything you’ve ordered.
So you’re now, hungry, lazy and full of guilt; does that make American’s eat more?
Another key factor might be the price of the meal. For instance, being a girl, you may be asked out on a dinner date in which the guy will pay for you. Or, you may be a client of a businessman and he is buttering you up by taking you out to dinner. In both these instances, the dinner is now free.
When people present you with free food, what do you normally do? I’m sure we’d all take full advantage of that opportunity.
Being a poor married college student, free meals are like gold. However, do we see ourselves eating more when there is no cost? I know that sometimes I see myself eating more when the food is free because I don’t know when I will have such a luxury again.
As far as price goes, did you ever stop and think that the price we are paying is a future of obesity for our country? However, is it America’s fault they are guilted into eating so much food? The restaurants cannot stand blameless.
Here’s some food for thought: Have you ever wondered how the restaurant business lures you in to spend more money and eat more food?
Here are some tips to help you save money and save your figure.
Tip #1: As a waitress I was always encouraged to offer an appetizer. To avoid ordering too much food, why not skip the appetizer, your entrée will come fast enough.
Tip #2: The menu is a key item. Have you ever noticed the pictures that make you drool? They look so tasty people don’t even think before ordering. Instead take some time to read the entréee carefully. What are the portions like? Will it be too much to eat? Do not let your eyes take over your stomach and your wallet.
Tip #3: Another important fact is timing. As a waitress I was encouraged to try and get the person to order as much food as possible at one time. Instead of ordering your dessert at the same time as your entrée, wait and see how hungry you are.
Tip #4: To avoid restaurant portions and restaurant bills, try going to the grocery store. Stay home and make your own meals. It is also a good budgeting tool. At a restaurant you have to worry about the cost of everything you order plus a tip to the waiter or waitress. Typically you are spending $10 plus a tip per person. For about half that price you can feed twice the amount of people by a simple trip to the grocery store.
Just because Americans are hungry, lazy and full of guilt does not mean we want to become poor and obese. Be aware of the portions you intake.
It is time to put our brains back where they belong: in our heads, not our stomachs.
Katie Higgins is a junior majoring is speech communication. Comments can be sent to klm@cc.usu.edu.