Motivation Monday

Would you like to add another 600 calories to your food order today? Nobody would answer "yes" to that question but unfortunately that's what so many of us are doing when we say "yes" to a bigger portions. "Bigger" does not mean "better value" if it means increasing your waist line and increasing your risk for disease. From coffee drinks, to fast food, to snack foods, American kids and adults are eating huge portions with too many calories.

Today's larger portions are adding up to extra pounds.

100 extra calories per day = 10 pound weight gain per year.

Some examples:

In 1987 ? a bagel was 2" diameter, 140 calories. Now in 2007, it's 6" in diameter, 350 calories.

In 1987, a hamburger was 4.5 oz., 330 calories, today, 9.5 oz., 590 calories. To burn off these extra calories, an extra hour of exercise.

In 1987, a soda size was approximately 8oz., 100 calories, today 20 oz., 250 calories

Today's drive thru lunch at a fast food restaurant is avgerage of 1200 calories, 20 years ago it was 590 calories. That's like eating 2 lunches now instead of one.

The key is not necessarily depriving yourself but learning to be more in tune with portion sizes. We are taking in too many calories. Get in touch with proper portion sizes and share this information with your kids!

For example:

1 cup = 2 cupped hands ½ cup ? 1 cupped hand

For information about Learning ZoneXpress, a company that is working to educate our society about health and nutrition call 888-455-7003 orClick Here

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