How much people eat

**sheli** · 06-25-2013 08:30 PM

I went with my son on a field trip to the zoo yesterday and was so shocked at lunch time. I had my lunch - a cheese stick- and plenty of water. I had packed him a tuna sandwich, one hard boiled egg, and one SF fruit cup. But then I saw how much food everyone else was eating and suddenly felt like I had not brought him enough food. He is 15 yrs old and he is overweight right now due to a big weight gain caused by a new seizure med. Does this sound like enough food for him? All the other kids had what I consider to be 2 meals... and LOTS of cookies, chips, and pop. One of the other ladies felt so bad for my son that she gave him her extra cereal bar... yes, she brought a sandwich, chips, pop, cookies, and TWO cereal bars for lunch. WTF?

I am not sure if my perception is just off now, after eating such tiny little meals for the past 3 months or not...

**smcd23** · 06-25-2013 08:32 PM

I think the lunch you packed was just fine

**Kazoogirl** · 06-25-2013 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by smcd23

I think the lunch you packed was just fine

Totally fine! Everything you packed for him was a normal portion and actually healthy - all the extra stuff (processed junk food) they were eating was crap. We are just so used to huge portions, I am shocked when I eat with others now. American food portions are soooooo out of whack! It's made me really realize how out of control I was before.

**sheli** · 06-25-2013 08:51 PM

I felt so bad because they were looking at my son like "oh, you poor thing, you don't have enough food".

**LoraG** · 06-25-2013 08:55 PM

The lunch you packed was great.
I"ve also noticed the amount of food people eat and it's out of control.
It's hard to explain this to someone's who's not had surgery, but your view changes in the process.

**Its_Me** · 06-25-2013 09:18 PM

I also agree, your sons lunch sounded fine. How does he feel with the portion sizes? Is he still hungry or full? I too am amazed now when I look at how much food people eat - and how much I used to eat. Makes me feel so uncomfortable. I fear that my son (16) has picked up on my bad unhealthy habits, all I can do is hope my new good ones rub off on him too.

**Nursenad** · 06-25-2013 09:19 PM

Sounds like a nutritionally sound lunch to me. And as long as he is satisfied with it that should be all that counts. I feel like I let my children down because all three have weight problems and I blame it on my dysfunctional relationship with food. At fifteen your son should be able to understand the science of nutrition and kudos to you for trying to show him that you are heading for a healthier future and wish that for him also.

**Onery in Ohio** · 06-25-2013 09:25 PM

I think what you saw in those kids lunch is the reason why there are so many more obese children and teenagers who are prime candidates to be future sleevers, etc I know we are acutely aware of portion control once we are sleeved I wish I would have been prior to it then I would have not needed the procedure!

**sheli** · 06-25-2013 09:32 PM

Thanks guys, it is nice to know I am not starving my kid! I sometimes think I am warped now because when I see others eating it just seems so gross, and like soooo much food. I don't expect people to eat the little portions that I do, but geez, there has to be a middle ground.

**abcd1234** · 06-25-2013 09:33 PM

Our portions were wrong for so long. I've noticed since surgery, i'm paying a lot more attention to what my kids are eating.

**Breen** · 06-25-2013 09:38 PM

I think it sounds yummy! Also, I've never seen anyone die from too small a lunch. Did he complain about it? Only thing missing was a veg. My kids would be happy to skip that. Follow your gut not other peoples bad behaviors. :0)

**bejeweled** · 06-25-2013 10:06 PM

Too many of us try to express love and care through an abundance of food which is the exact wrong thing for us to do when food is too easy to get and a lot of the food has little to no nutrients and is processed. Everyone has to start changing how they express love and care. Also, I just saw a documentary, Hungry for Change, and one of the quotes that stuck with me is this: "we are overfed and undernourished". Look, I mean really look at the nutrition info on the back of the items in the grocery store - too many are full of chemicals, fat, salt and sugar to make us crave it.

**Laura H** · 06-26-2013 07:38 AM

I am amazed since my surgery when I watch people eat. I used to eat like that. Not just heavy people, but thin ones too. There plates look like they are mounds of food. Our portions are messed up and seems to be getting worse. I wish I had done this surgery long ago and maybe I could have helped my children learn to eat better and keep their portions under control.