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Comment by smspence | Hacker News Reader

How can we know if your typical French meal is balanced or not, since you didn't indicate the portion size of any of those foods?

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Idk, portion size seems fairly explicit in my post. This picture sums up nicely what a french meal would look like:

http://i.imgur.com/5XRulJK.png

With the appetizer plate topmost, dessert in the middle, main course at the bottom of the picture.

It's also common for hungry/active people to have a second serving of the main course; a third helping would be rare.

How is that a "French" meal? You can eat those types of foods anywhere... I have had many meals that look exactly like that here in the U.S., both cooked at home and out at restaurants.

Don't believe what you read on Reddit, HN, and other websites that hate Americans. Not all Americans eat McDonald's burgers and fries and other crappy processed food for every meal. We are just like anyone else. Some of us (not all) are healthy and eat very balanced and healthy meals, and some of us are in very good shape physically. On the other hand.... some other Americans (not all) are obese, unhealthy, eat bad food. It's a mixture. Not every American is the same. And there is not one "typical American meal" in my opinion.

You asked for portion size, I've sent you a picture of what typical portions look like in France.

As far as judging American nutrition, I've lived here for almost 4 years now, so I'm not basing my remarks solely off HN/Reddit/etc. :)

My point is that there is no such thing as "American nutrition". What does that term even mean?

A total lack of portion control.

I have to say I think this is true.

Of course not every single American eats the same. But, probably the best reflection of the "average" American diet is via "mainstream" restaurants (i.e. chains, but not fast food).

Look at places like Chili's, Friday's, Ruby Tuesday, and (gasp) Cheesecake Factory. Their portions are out of control and they are laden with fat and sodium. It is not unusual for a single meal at those places to nearly meet or exceed one's allowance of, calories, etc., for an entire day. And some meals (ex. Just about every entree at Cheesecake) are cartoonishly huge.

It's ridiculous. But, I think that defines the "average" American diet in the sense that these guys are all targeting the mass market. So, what they serve is the product of much research into what people want, and then is constantly being tweaked based on observation.

Let me get this straight: you are looking for healthy, sensible meals at a place called THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY. Are you serious? Read that again and think about it: the name of the place is The Cheesecake Factory. You're trying to say that this restaurant is representative of a person's overall diet in the U.S.? Completely ignoring any other options that offer healthy food? Completely ignoring cooking at home? Completely ignoring the plethora of farmer's markets, grocery stores with amazing fresh produce and lean meats, the growing popularity of the Whole Foods and similar stores throughout the country?

Oh, I see, you don't like to think about these things, because it goes against the "AMERICA IS HORRIBLE" narrative that is so popular on the internet.

Your responses have been remarkably calm and balanced. Thanks for keeping things civil with multiple people poking and prodding you.

"Not all Americans eat McDonald's burgers and fries and other crappy processed food for every meal. We are just like anyone else. "

I'm sorry, but the food here in the US is ABSURD. Aside from burgers and fries, there are few places that one can get an _affordable_ healthy meal. Two things jump out at me here: the portions and sodium.

In order to remain somewhat healthy, you have to cook or actively go out of your way and purchase food that turns out to cost more. "It's a mixture." does not accurately describe the US - I do believe it's off-balance here; more folks do consume such food.

I'm originally from Hong Kong, which gives me a slightly different perpective than most, but everything that I eat out in the east: tastes amazing, can be extremely affordable, doesn't make me feel bloated or 'full' when I'm done and is absolutely incredible.

So you eat all that twice a day, plus breakfast, plus sometimes seconds of the main? As a Canadian that looks like WAY too much food. Here it would be more common to eat one serving of what you call the main course (where veggies may be replaced by the salad), plus maybe an appetizer/fruit/bread. Desserts usually only special occasions or when you go out to a restaurant.

I wouldn't say that France has a reputation for eating healthy (and no wonder, sheesh), more a reputation for "gourmet" food. Personally I found that the site gave a fairly sane meal plan for a sane calorie range. Whether the site generated it for you or not, surely you realized 3500 kcal is not a sustainable amount for a sedentary person to eat?

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