I am in Texas, experiencing Texan life as much as I can with a VSG. I am not struggling too much with eating, but I am amazed at the portion sizes. This leads me to look at how Texans go out for dinner and then eat the meal again the following day.
Here in Houston, it is customary to be served portions the size to feed a family of four. I want to understand why they present you with such large plates. I need to find this out, as this is just insane in so many aspects. Eating out is more of an occasion here than in the U.K. I mean that everyone eats out regularly or gets takeout. Still, the restaurants make more of an effort to serve. There is more style and care surrounding the dining experience. These are just my views. I know that in London, most are branded chain restaurants packed to the brim due to the number of people.
So what I am experiencing is a city dominated by the use of cars. People drive to restaurants. There is space so the buildings can accommodate finesse from the car park to the door and then guided to the table. Back to the point, the portions are enormous and overloaded with extras. No person should eat this size meal, and if you have a VSG, then certainly it is and go. The norm is to order, eat what you can, usually too much, and then have the rest of the meal pack to go! Once, a server asked if I wanted to have my dessert packed before it was on a plate before me.
Going out for a meal as a treat is lovely and should be an occasional treat. Meals should be cooked at home so that you know what is in the meal and can feed your body with what is needed and no more. Home-cooked food is always mentally and physically rewarding. I hear many times that there is no time to cook. Or instead, prioritising mundane tasks overshadow looking after one’s internal and external health.
The Houston folk, and I am sure it is not just Houston, go out for a meal. It’s a good meal, but they get full-up towards the middle of the meal because the portion sizes are colossal. They ask the server to pack the food up to go. And wow, do they know how to package the food up. Plastic solid containers with secure lids. All are bagged up and ready to take home. Even the dessert is selected and boxed up without touching a plate or spoon.
Taking away uneaten food is a good practice. No waste, and I agree. We have developed the habit of eating food served in front of us.
As a health coach, I am concerned that you are doubling your calorie intake for two days. You are eating the meal twice. Once is ok as indulging yourself occasionally, then returning to good quality eating the next day. But if you take away half your dinner plus the dessert, your body is being bombarded with an overload of calories from fats, sugars and carbs, far more than you should in one meal sitting. But here you are, eating the meal again. So does eating out become normal? We need to refocus on why we eat and not what we eat. That last statement sounds like if we focus on why we eat, energy, well-being and nourishment, then it will be boring. Think again. Fresh whole foods are delicious. They are not processed or deep-fried; they will taste good, and you will feel great.
With a VSG, eating out can be an utter waste of money. We really shouldn’t be eating much. We really should be eating to maintain energy and well-being. I say tough as I like eating out. I still love food, but leaving most of it on the plate is not satisfying. And if I have put too many spoonfuls in my mouth, the food in front of me will disgust me.
The answer is simple, but only sometimes possible, share food—one portion between two. If the restaurant allows, here in Houston, it seems perfectly ok to order one meal between two. But no one seems to do it. If you are with a non-VSG, they can always order an extra side. Healthy eating is so good for you, your mind and your body. But it’s ok to enjoy a treat meal. Just don’t do it every night. The only bit of you that wants a treat meal is your mouth, eyes and mind, and your mind will only be treating itself to the ordering process. Your gut won’t thank you for a great meal, but it’s ok to do it occasionally.