I am so frustrated over the way the government allows the food industry to label their products. I feel that we have the right to be fed a portion and only a portion when purchasing food on the run. I decided yesterday to give into a craving .............ok not such a good thing but I'm being honest I did. .....anyway I chose a hostess snowball.........read the label ( see I was making an informed decision) 210 calories/7 grams of fat......Bought them ate them ....even enjoyed them until I went to put these little balls of fluff into my fitday journal and noticed that the package was 2 servings.....Why do they do this. They should put one serving in a package or in big letters put SHARE WITH A FRIEND!! Am I the only one who gets caught in this situation. I am wondering if we could petition the government to change this........I remember when a soda was an 8oz bottle, now a serving is a 20oz soda.........least that is what they make ya think.........Give me some feed back. Love to hear from you all. Thanks.

Yes - the servings are kind-of annoying, but i personally like them

You will learn from this experience: always read the serving size.

After you take the serving size into consideration it's actually a nice thing - because usually companies call one "serving" a small portion (such that their product APPEARS healthier)

It gives me a nice guide to follow. Stop after I've eaten half the package. It's convieneint.

I pack lunch on saturday for the rest of the week, and when I buy containers of ... say almonds... the serving size gives me an approximation of how much a (relatively small) serving should be. I am often happy when I find myself getting an "extra" serving out of a product, feeling that I've avoided eating too much of it.

About the petition thing? They're not being fraudulent. They are being truthful, and hence completely legal. I doubt anything like this would get much support in any public way.

Hope it helps,
Dan

Yep, we have to watch like hawks..

If I bake a cake, I can tell you my serving is half the cake and give nutrition accordingly.
Same way with the carbs.. That one blows my mind.
One LARGE bagel is one serving with about 46 carbs.
That is a tad over 3 servings LOL

But I know that about my bagel already, I accept that if I eat the whole thing, I have to give up 3 starches LOL

Its tricky!

Never stated that they are fraudulent. More like deceptive, why put 2 serivngs in a package the average consumer will eat as one. It was just my opinion that americans are fatter because of the oversized portions we are given. Just an opinion.

Blueeyez - I 100% agree with you. I wanted to snack on some chips and read the label and figured I would pay the Piper. UNTIL I read that that little bag was 3 servings! grrrrrrrrr.......

If I opened it - all 3 servings would be gone!

Your right and that is why there is super size etc etc......sigh

We now have to be more careful to not fall into the trap of appearances of size/servings of foods...:tomato:

Beth :not:

You have to always read the labels! We can never assume a serving, not with the way things are packaged these days, so I read the labels 100% of the time so I know what I'm eating.

The upside to it is that many times you'll turn a food choice down because you'll see 1 serving is 1/8th of the package and you know if you open the package you'll eat all 8 servings!

So label reading, and making sense of the labels is pretty crucial nowadays!

Donna

Yes, and I think it was BigBill that was telling the story of getting a kids size treat in a fast food place, it turned out to be 6 oz. The lady behind the counter said some remarks to him about that little portion.
Actually 4 0z = 1/2 c .. doesnt it?
So its not a kids portion after all, its a tad over normal LOL

The more they can get us to eat, the more we want.
Next step, two servings of the biggie sizes lol

Originally posted by BlueEyez
Never stated that they are fraudulent. More like deceptive, why put 2 serivngs in a package the average consumer will eat as one. It was just my opinion that americans are fatter because of the oversized portions we are given. Just an opinion.

As americans we are only fatter because we eat multiple portions.

The other day I served up 2 serving of pasta ansd stopped at 1 portion and placed the rest in the fridge. why? because I was full.

If you can't handle the suggested serving in a package. Don't buy it. I can't stop myself with chips so I only buy snack size lunch servings 1 serving for 120-200 calories.

Originally posted by BlueEyez
I am wondering if we could petition the government to change this........I remember when a soda was an 8oz bottle, now a serving is a 20oz soda.........least that is what they make ya think.........Give me some feed back. Love to hear from you all. Thanks.

well when they increased the serving size they increased the calories also. a 12 oz can of soda is also called on serving and has different calorie info then a 20 oz soda. Also the 20oz sodas come with caps so it is more conducive to saving for later then a can.

Hey Blue,
I've always known there were two servings in a Hostess cake package. Luckily for me I could stop at just one Snowball. But if you are talking Hostess Cupcakes::::::::: now THAT is a different story!!!!! :(

Label reading has to be our safeguard. Merchants are in the business to make money, they are wanting to encourage all of us to purchase the product, this is the "free enterprise" thought after all.

Therefore we have to take a defensive position on the whole thing. Read those labels, weigh those portions, think carefully regarding the pros and cons of the product. Do you really want to make that purchase? Do you really want to eat that which you have purchased? The bottom line is, it's up to me!!!

A package of cookies seldom if ever jumps from the store shelves into my shopping cart all by itself. I have to help it. Sometimes I get in the mindset of "It's calling my name, I have to take it home with me," but it really isn't.

And yes, it is difficult. :(

Originally posted by BlueEyez
Never stated that they are fraudulent. More like deceptive, why put 2 serivngs in a package the average consumer will eat as one. It was just my opinion that americans are fatter because of the oversized portions we are given. Just an opinion.

They aren't fraudulent - and I know you didn't say they were. I'm saying it's not illegal BECAUSE it's not fraudulent. As long as the package states exactly what's in it - I'm fine.

I don't usually have a hard time putting down a product after one "serving" if that's how much i've set out to eat.

For those who do, my suggestion: I can't stop with chips/crackers. I'll eat too many - so I buy a big bag, and package it into small zip lock bags right away when i get home... when i eat the chips i'll take one zip-lock bag and hide the rest of the chips. When the bag is empty - i'm usually satisfied enough to say "eh, i don't need any more".

if i'm still not satisfied i'll take a second bag - but this is a rare occurance.

This method has helped me a lot.

:D :D :D

i understand what you are saying Blue..we have the same thing going on here in Australia...things advertised as being low fat etc until you read the label and see that something ie a smoothie drink which was small and any normal person would drink in a second actually had 3 servings in it...
i am very careful that i read things very well..
hugs bell :)