Dinner plate comparison sizes over the years
Since the 1960s, dinner plates have gotten way bigger — and so have our portions. This powerful image shows how many more calories we eat now.
Beautiful example of Parkinson's law:
In 1960's, average dinner plate was 8.5 inches, or ~800 calories of food.
Today its over 12 inches, 1900 cals of food.
A trick for losing weight (or getting fat): make your plate smaller.
Humans fill the amount of space we're given.
Image Description
The image shows a comparison of dinner plate sizes from different decades. It illustrates how the average plate size has increased from 8.5 inches in the 1960s to 12 inches in 2009, along with the corresponding increase in calorie capacity.
Positive Aspects
This image effectively visualizes the concept of growing plate sizes over the years, making it easier for readers to grasp the impact on portion sizes and calorie intake. It's a clear, straightforward depiction of how our eating habits have expanded along with our dinnerware.
Key Takeaways
- Plate Size Growth: Since the 1960s, average dinner plate sizes have increased from 8.5 inches to over 12 inches.
- Calories Increased: The calorie capacity of plates has more than doubled from 800 to 1900 calories.
- Parkinson's Law in Action: The idea that "humans fill the amount of space we're given" is demonstrated through larger plates leading to larger portions.
- Weight Management Tip: Using smaller plates can be an effective strategy for controlling portion sizes and managing weight.
Additional Insights
The growth in plate sizes is a classic example of how environmental changes can subtly influence our behavior. Just like how you might cram more junk into a bigger closet, we tend to pile more food onto bigger plates. So, next time you’re aiming to cut back, remember: size really does matter!
