Is consuming great quantities at one time wrong?

Is consuming great quantities at one time wrong?

Occasional splurges happen, but they should be the rare exception, not the rule. No one benefits from consuming such huge quantities. Carbonated and juice drinks that are served in large-sized containers are examples of profitable marketing and not healthful food options. If you are so thirsty that you need to drink a lot, drink water.

Are exaggerated marketing promotions harmful? As a professional dietitian and health advocate, I say yes. Weight gain and obesity in the U.S. has increased dramatically in both children and adults. Obesity is associated with the promotion of insulin resistance and diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and other chronic and life-threatening conditions. Now these nutritional concerns are increasingly facing many people with HIV.

Maintaining control over ingredients and portion sizes is easier when food is prepared and eaten at home. Children and adults are increasingly eating alone and eating outside the home. Such indiscriminate eating can add up to excessive calorie and fat intake. Take steps to establish meal times for your family, whatever your family structure.

Nutrition studies have shown that overweight people tend to under-report what they are eating and underweight folks tend to over-report. Even though individuals' self-reporting on dietary intakes may not be one hundred percent accurate, just writing down everything you eat and drink over one day is an important step in increasing your awareness to help you make changes. Being aware of what you are eating is a necessary step to improving dietary intake and behaviors.

Individuals can envision the amounts they serve themselves, and they become familiar with how to quantify them. How much meat, bread, mayonnaise, and lettuce is on that sandwich?

By using plastic models of foods and samples of various sized cans, drinking glasses, and containers, individuals get a clear idea of what standard serving sizes look like and ultimately a reality check as to what they think they are eating.

The unavailabilty of small portions is a public health disservice. Getting a larger amount of drink or food for just a few pennies more may seem like a real deal and good value for your money. The opposite is more often the truth. These greater amounts actually contribute to damaging your health. If you are extremely thirsty, quench it to your heart's content with safe drinking water. Don't drink excessive amounts of fruit juice or sodas. Don't be lured into going back for free refills of soda. Soda should be seen a treat to enjoy once in a while, not something to have with every meal.