Food Nutrition and Schoolage Children: Portion Sizes
In North America, obesity is becoming an increasingly important issue, as media attention has served to alert us to the dangers of our sedentary, fast-food-filled lifestyles. What has become of particular concern is the influence this kind of lifestyle has had on our children, as incidences of child obesity continue to rise at an alarming rate.
We know about the importance of exercise and good nutrition for our kids health, but there may be more to the issue than this. In addition to watching what your child is eating, it’s important to be aware of how much she is eating, as portion control is a central tenant of any healthy diet. Read on for more information on the importance of portion control, as well as lots of great healthy eating tips for kids.
Portion Control: Then and Now
It’s no wonder people need help with portion control sizes, as many have grown exponentially in the past couple of decades. Take a look at how these popular food items have expanded over the past twenty years:
20 Years Ago | Today | ||||
Portion | Calories | Portion | Calories | ||
Bagel | 3'' diameter | 140 | Bagel | 6'' diameter | 350 |
Cheeseburger | 1 | 333 | Cheeseburger | 1 | 590 |
French Fries | 2.4 ounces | 210 | French Fries | 6.9 ounces | 610 |
Soda | 6.5 ounces | 85 | Soda | 20 ounces | 250 |
Orange Juice | 1 cup | 100 | Orange Juice | 2.2 cups | 150 |