Everyday Systems

interesting graphic
http://www.insurancequotes.org/serving- ... -the-world

Thank you! I was already aware of how much US sizes have grown, but found it extremely interesting to see the averages differences in size between the same items in modern-day Paris and Philadelphia.

Great graphic. Thanks a lot

Awsome!

Getting more food for your money, if you're talking about food that is to be consumed at one sitting, really isn't a good way to go. Some restaurants have used this as an inexpensive way to differentiate themselves from their competition, and have managed to convince a lot of us that this is a desirable thing. But when you think about it, it really isn't. The restaurants that do this are acting in their best interests, which are not necessarily the same as your best interests.

Nicest of the Damned wrote:Getting more food for your money, if you're talking about food that is to be consumed at one sitting, really isn't a good way to go. Some restaurants have used this as an inexpensive way to differentiate themselves from their competition, and have managed to convince a lot of us that this is a desirable thing. But when you think about it, it really isn't. The restaurants that do this are acting in their best interests, which are not necessarily the same as your best interests.

I always eat enough to be full, not stuffed.

I use Reinhard's virtual plate technique to determine how much I'll eat.

For the remainder, I ask for a doggy bag. I always carry a cooler in my car.

But let's face it. if you leave food at the plate in the restaurant, you are not losing money. You are paying to not overeat. What a bargain!

Jethro wrote:But let's face it. if you leave food at the plate in the restaurant, you are not losing money. You are paying to not overeat. What a bargain!

If you gave half (or whatever fraction) of your portion back to the waitress when she brings it to the table, do you really think the restaurant would refund part of the price of that food? Do you think you could wrap half of your food up in a doggie bag and sell it to someone else for half of what you paid? Of course not. Since there's no realistic way to get that money back, you're not wasting money if you don't eat all your food.

Overeating isn't free. It looks like it is, because the costs come later, kind of like they do with pollution. But that doesn't mean those costs aren't there. You will pay for your overeating in medical costs later, possibly also in other costs like having to buy bigger clothes. An economist would call this a negative externality:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Externality