Discuss the change in our portion sizes over the last few decades.  Why have they increased so significantly? 

Many people have started embracing fast food. The result is that the consumption of fast
foods has increased over the years. Fast foods such as French fries and hamburgers have
dominated the market over time. The emergence of fast-food joints such as McDonald’s and KFC
has also resulted in many people turning to fast-food joints. Many people find fast food to
be convenient as they do not have enough time to prepare healthy meals at home. The demand
for fast foods has increased portion sizes as restaurants seek to attract more
consumers. There is huge competition in the fast-food market and this means that fast-food
companies must seek to ensure that they satisfy the needs of every consumer.
Explain two health implications of this change.
The increase in the portions has resulted in many Americans being overweight and obese.
Obesity can result in various health implications, including high blood pressure (Sizer &
Whitney, 2017). Another health implication is the increase in the incidence of diabetes. Many
people who consume these fast foods expose themselves to chronic conditions such as diabetes.
Explore the use of three simple and low-cost tools/techniques people can use to help
with portion control.  What is one strategy you particularly like and why?
One low-cost tool that can be used to help people with portion control is freezing and
refrigerating the excess food. Through this method, one does not have to worry about food being
wasted. Another method is using portion control dishware; portion control dishes can help ensure
that one achieves the goal of limiting the portions. The use of a food scale can also help in
ensuring that one reduces the portions.

References

Sizer, F. & Whitney, E. (2017). Nutrition: Concepts and controversies (14th ed.). Mason, OH:
Cengage Learning.