I believe what he meant was unfettered capitalism. Norway is also a capitalist country, but with far stricter regulation and higher rate of state ownership than the US.
Yeah I guess it also is culture. It’s mostly that sit down restaurants (and then fast food) got into an “arms race” over “value” which in this case value = bigger portion sizes for the same or less money than other places.
I just say capitalism as more shorthand for this kind of thing where there is some weird market forces at work, and half of that is just marketing and perceived “bang for buck” and trying to one up the other guy. Like I’m not even sure people actually want these giant portions shoveled into their obese gaping maws but it seems to be where we’ve arrived.
I mean, I’m a guy who is 6’4", quite active, and often don’t eat until late afternoon or dinnertime. So personally, I quite like “American portions”, because often when I go out to eat, I am going to already be very hungry.
But also, I find I usually get the best “bang for my buck” at mexican, indian, or ethiopian restaurants. And in these restaurants, I often see plenty of mexicans, indians, and ethiopians. And in my experience travelling and that of my friends, this is not a phenomenon exclusive to the American versions of these restaurants. I’ve been to Greek restaurants in Greece where we got to-go boxes because we couldnt finish the meal. Mexican restaurants in Mexico where they would just keep feeding you until literally couldnt eat any more. And everyone has the story of their Italian/Indian/Argentinian/etc grandmother who will keep force-feeding guests until they are literally ready to vomit. Honestly the “American portion sizes are crazy” rhetoric feels like it might instead be Europeans being weird.
blarghly@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Norway is a capitalist country as well
mastertigurius@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I believe what he meant was unfettered capitalism. Norway is also a capitalist country, but with far stricter regulation and higher rate of state ownership than the US.
LePoisson@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Yeah I guess it also is culture. It’s mostly that sit down restaurants (and then fast food) got into an “arms race” over “value” which in this case value = bigger portion sizes for the same or less money than other places.
I just say capitalism as more shorthand for this kind of thing where there is some weird market forces at work, and half of that is just marketing and perceived “bang for buck” and trying to one up the other guy. Like I’m not even sure people actually want these giant portions shoveled into their obese gaping maws but it seems to be where we’ve arrived.
blarghly@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I mean, I’m a guy who is 6’4", quite active, and often don’t eat until late afternoon or dinnertime. So personally, I quite like “American portions”, because often when I go out to eat, I am going to already be very hungry.
But also, I find I usually get the best “bang for my buck” at mexican, indian, or ethiopian restaurants. And in these restaurants, I often see plenty of mexicans, indians, and ethiopians. And in my experience travelling and that of my friends, this is not a phenomenon exclusive to the American versions of these restaurants. I’ve been to Greek restaurants in Greece where we got to-go boxes because we couldnt finish the meal. Mexican restaurants in Mexico where they would just keep feeding you until literally couldnt eat any more. And everyone has the story of their Italian/Indian/Argentinian/etc grandmother who will keep force-feeding guests until they are literally ready to vomit. Honestly the “American portion sizes are crazy” rhetoric feels like it might instead be Europeans being weird.