Muffin Top Madness

I don’t know about you, but I can’t eat a muffin the size of my head.

Recently I happened upon a display case filled with beautiful muffins, bagels, and cookies of mammoth proportions. It made such an impression that it sparked a dream that night. It was one of those crazy nightmares where nothing fits quite right, and the more muffin I ate, the bigger the muffin got, until I could no longer distinguish my own head from the muffin. That’s not exactly what the term “muffin top” means, but it was disturbing nonetheless.

Like a lot of people, I’ve been noticing the increase in portion size for years now. It started off slowly, escalating step by step and inch by inch until our food portions appear to be sized for the land of the giants. Every time it seems we’ve hit the limit, they throw another layer on your sandwich. How big does a sandwich have to be, anyway?

It’s not only portion size, though, but an increase in the layers of junk thrown in. As if a breakfast pastry wasn’t already a less than optimal choice, perhaps we should add more icing, more sugar, more color, more…more…more. As long as there’s a smidgen of fruit in there so it can be labeled as “wholesome.”

It’s rare to be served a beverage in a reasonable sized glass anymore, with restaurants opting for glasses almost as big as pitchers, while dinner plates have grown to the size of serving platters.

So began my research into this thing called portion distortion. It wasn’t difficult to locate a mountain of facts about portion size and nutritional value, and the difference between what is considered normal today versus normal 20 or 30 years ago. (Oh, and it’s a big difference.) Time travelers from the 60s would certainly be in for a surprise. But all those facts and figures fall on deaf ears because we’ve ever so slowly adjusted our perceptions of normal. And, really, our own eyes and common sense tell the tale if we’ll only pay attention.

Portion distortion is costly, unhealthy, wasteful, and habit-forming, but there’s no sign that we’re going to turn the tide any time soon. In the meantime, I’ll remain wary of giant muffins.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Eternal G.

5:09PM PST on Feb 6, 2012

Too much, too often.

send a green star

Debbie C.

8:51AM PST on Jan 27, 2012

I have really noticed the glasses in restaurants. Some of their glasses are "almost as big as pitchers" like Ann said. I just thought it was so that they didn't have to refill them for you through the dinner.

And when you go to McDonald's or wherever, their cups are so big, they last me all day long.

iii q.

1:27PM PST on Jan 24, 2012

David M.

10:59AM PST on Jan 18, 2012

Thanks

Sue M.

9:06AM PST on Jan 18, 2012

thanks.

Joe R.

8:44AM PST on Jan 18, 2012

And Americans keep putting on the pounds.

NO FW NEWS AM R.

5:08AM PST on Jan 18, 2012

Thank you for the article.

Sue H.

12:05AM PST on Jan 18, 2012

I like the words "portion distortion"! And it is interesting watching food ads on the tv, it really does seem like everyone is trying to outdo themselves with "we add more". I got caught out in the real world, late for lunch, so went into a sandwich place....they were shocked that I wanted
thin sliced bread (which they did not have) so I asked them to cut half of the top off of the giant roll they were serving.... all the little server folks were looking at me like I was nuts. ?? Anyway, it turned out to be two lunches for me. I guess that I'm lucky that we don't have any
great bakeries nearby so I'm not going to get bad dreams about muffins!

june t.

10:49PM PST on Jan 17, 2012

Whenever I eat out I almost always bring half of it home - one dinner is often good for 2 lunches.

Leena K.

9:24PM PST on Jan 17, 2012

No muffins for me, good reminder, thanks1