Should restaurants reduce their portion sizes?

NEW YORK - MARCH 15: A man cooks eggs on a grill at a dinner on March 15, 2010 in the Bronx borough of New York. Two recent studies have declared that the Bronx is the least healthy county in the state of New York and home to many of the least healthy residents in the country. Health oficals found that 60 to 70 percent of Bronx residents are overweight or obese. Another study by the Food Research and Action Center found that nearly 37 percent of residents in the South Bronx have lacked money to buy food at some point in the past 12 months. Many politicians and residents have long complained over the lack of groceries selling affordable and fresh produce and the abundance of fast food restaurants as part of the problem. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

In a recent piece for The Washington Post, food critic Tom Sietsema is asking restaurants to cut down their portion sizes.

Instead, he suggests that restaurants offer half-portions, medium-sized plates and encourages sharing dishes. With the lack of a standard portion size, restaurants make the call on each serving size, leaving them to decide whether or not to pile on the extra food or leave it off the plate.

His argument comes amid concerns of excessive food waste and with roughly 40% of adults in the U.S. considered obese. With smaller serving sizes, argues Sietsema, less food will go to waste and people will have less food tempting them on their plate.

What portion-size do you prefer? Do you think restaurants need a standard portion size? Do you frequent specific restaurants because of their portion size? And how do you handle portions that are too large to finish? We’re taking your calls at 866-893-5722.

Guest:

Tom Sietsema, food critic for The Washington Post; he tweets

Tweets by tomsietsema