Nancy2 > wrote:

> Everyone in the US would be better off if portions were this size
> instead of gigantic, as seems to be the current fashion (unless you're
> talkin' upscale restaurant).

I was thinking about this over the weekend, and came to the
conclusion that the reason is cheap food. For the McDonalds,
Burger Kings, and Hardees of the world the cost of people,
equipment, leasing space, energy, shipping and packaging probably
far outweighs the cost of the actual food. So, to make their
stuff look like a bargain they increase the portion sizes.
Doubling the size of the burger is probably adding 10% to
the cost. To put it another way, they could reduce the size
to reasonable portions, but their prices would have to
remain pretty much the same and people would be feel "cheated."

Bill Ranck
Blacksburg, Va.