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Every time I go to St. Louis I inevitably find myself eating at Cheesecake Factory with my Dad. This is both a rant and a rave. My rant is that I just can't stand these chain restaurants and the excess of Cheesecake Factory is right up there with the worst. The size of the portions also plays into America's growing obesity problem (I heard a news report while I was at home that said that in something like 30 years 100% of Americans will be overweight - is that possible?).

But at the same time, the food at Cheesecake Factory is actually pretty good. They also have a very extensive menu with lots of different options that go WAY beyond the typical burger steak and chicken chain restaurants that you usually see. I ordered grilled artichokes and they were excellent. I love artichokes, I cook them at home every now and then (it's a lot of work), and I was amazed that Cheesecake Factory not only has them, but that they are actually really really good. I'd go back to that restaurant multiple times just for that dish alone.

clement wrote:Every time I go to St. Louis I inevitably find myself eating at Cheesecake Factory with my Dad. This is both a rant and a rave. My rant is that I just can't stand these chain restaurants and the excess of Cheesecake Factory is right up there with the worst. The size of the portions also plays into America's growing obesity problem (I heard a news report while I was at home that said that in something like 30 years 100% of Americans will be overweight - is that possible?).

That seems presumptuous. I assume they mean "if current trends continue," but there's no way of knowing what will happen between then and now. World events could have an effect. More attention is likely to be paid to the problem in any case, and I think it already is going that way. Portion size is getting more attention. Plus, I'm not so sure about the definition of overweight. I'm overweight if you go by one of those BMI calculators online, but I don't think anyone you ask would say I look overweight. I could stand to lose about 10 pounds, but I'm not that concerned about it and my doctor hasn't said anything.

I agree the portions are too big for one meal, yet only because people tend to think they should eat it all. We almost always take a box home and get at least two meals out of restaurant food. So it's hard for me to actually want them to decrease the size.

100%? No one in America will run, swim, row, or play any sports? We'll stop going to the Olympics? That's like the stat that there won't be a single natural redhead in 50 years. Yes, it's recessive, yes, they population is shrinking. But you're telling me that there aren't any remote villages in Ireland that'll be popping them out?

The WSJ has a story on that illogical statistic.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1218761 ... lenews_wsj

Having said that... ghost, despite all the supposed changes that have been going on since forever the trend just keeps moving in the same (bad) direction.

Portion size in the U.S. is absolutely absurd.

Cheesecake Factory has an outstanding spicy chicken pasta thing...and always has left overs, it's called push away fromt he table and just eat less...

The portion size at sit down places shouldn't be the big deal,it's the fast food places that should tone it down a little.

i like big portions.. i buy one meal and it will feed me at least 2 times.. sometimes 3

omaha_red wrote:i like big portions.. i buy one meal and it will feed me at least 2 times.. sometimes 3

Yeah. It's also economical in that sense, and can even be cheaper than cooking the same thing yourself in some cases.

To some extent I think getting worked up over it and directing anger at the restaurants lets the consumer off the hook. If the government were to try and address this, I think they'd be better off with a public health campaign and PSAs that say "you don't have to eat the whole thing," or "listen to your belly," or something of the sort.

But wouldn't y'all rather have a one-meal portion and pay 1/2 as much (or 1/3)? That way you can buy 2 or 3 hot, fresh, and different meals for the same price.

I'm also amazed at the size of small sodas. A small soda at most places in the US is larger than the large in most other places. And almost every restaurant I went to in St. Louis gives free refills on the sodas. At the cinema they kept pushing me to get the large soda and large popcorn because it's only 50 cents more and you get double the amount. I know people can just say no or just stop eating at some point, but it's these very effective and profitable marketing techniques that contribute to the rise in obesity.