Big Plate/Little Plate

Once upon a time I only used small plates for bagels, muffins, or slices of pie.  Big plates were always reserved for the main meal (plus they could typically hold a whole oven-baked Roma/Tony's Pizza).

I realized, during a 4th of July meal that I had a full sized plate.  What did I do?  I started to fill said plate like everyone else there and realized "wait, I can't eat all of this anyway!" so I put almost all of it back except a slice of pork ribs (mmm boneless and made in a crockpot for 10 hours) and 2 green beans.

The next day we had dinner again but this time I took a small plate and ate two halves of a burger patty with ketchup, mustard, some raw onion, and pickle.  No bun, of course!  My plate appeared to be heaping with food (and, really, it was). 

What are your experiences with plate size?  Do you find that, if only large plates are available, you have to keep yourself from trying to fill them?  What are your experiences in this kind of situation?  It's such a difficult habit to break after so many years of it!

I try to get as small of a plate as I can.  Mentally though, I still try to pile it up with food.  I guess when I see & smell food my brain still thinks I can eat like I used to. 

Sounds like you did good this weekend....ribs sound so good!

Yep! For me big plate = big portions... so I try to stay with the small plates. It really DOES make a difference.

When I'm paying attention, I prefer a large plate.  Smaller plates make me feel like I have to pile 'em high to get my fair share (I never said it made sense...).  Bigger plates allow me to really pay attention to how much of each thing I take, to leave spaces in between (not that I have food-touching-food issues, I don't...).   I also get a kick out of comparing smaller portions on my big plate to the quantities other people take! 

I'm not ALWAYS mindful of this, God knows, but I do get a kick out of it.

At home I am the small plate and custard dish gal. This is what I grab. If we are using fine china (paper) I am still ok, I don't tend to over do it. I just take the meat and maybe a veggie or two. The dog likes it when I use the regular size plate and there are left overs lol

When we go out to eat, I have one side of the plate with the don't eat this stuff and the part closest to me with the ok foods. The untouchables would be the bun,rabbit foods they place on burgers etc... all the stuff I don't need.

When I am having a snack; mixed nuts for example, what ever fits in my little hand is the amount I should have (one ounce). I then place that handful on a napkin. This makes a better visual for me then a dish of some sort.

Kelly/tink

So interesting that this is the topic!  I was at the bariatric clinic today (I had my psychologist visit) and there was an OH magazine there.  I read lots of it while waiting.  It was the Jan/Feb 09 issue.  There was an article about food presentation and how gourmet food should be served on a large plate with LOTS of blank space on it.  I was surprised, since I always thought using small plates was better.   I agree with Darla, the main point is to pay attention!

Even pre-op I ditched nearly all my dishes and invested in some smaller plates.

Target has some silverware they sell for basically appetizers, they are about six inches long... now post-op I mostly use those along with either the salad plates, or even the saucers from my original dishes set. The dinner plates are in the closet.

I do pay attention to presentation as well... trying to make my meals visually appealing to me as well as taste good. (use of contrasting colors in the foods, or adding a sauce, etc).

I don't really eat at restaurants yet... but when eating at family/friends.... I sorta end up using smaller plates out of habit now.