My dad told me that just three or four decades ago, there were very few buffets in the Houston area. Then they started springing up everywhere. Buffets everywhere (my mom loves them)! My mom would take me to these when I was a kid, and if my brother or I didn’t eat at least as much as she did (which was stuffing herself), then she’d call us mice and threaten not to take us there anymore because it was too expensive.

Anyway, it’s this kind of restaurant that makes Houston one of the fattest cities in the universe. Last time I went to one, a place called China Border, there were only Hispanics there, and almost all of them were very obese.

I don’t eat out except when a friend asks me. Rarely do I get a friend who wants to share a meal. Last time, I tried to share a meal, but the lying waiter insisted one dish was only enough for one. My friend preferred to risk ordering too much than sharing a meal. I always get food to go at restaurants because it’s ridiculous.

I think that restaurants (esp. fast food) have pushed this mentality that cheaper and more is best, so people demand more, and restaurants respond by offering more, and it’s just an endless spiral.

Also get a kick out of places like Buca Di Beppo’s – an Italian chain that serves “family sized” portions, i.e., two people need to order the same thing or you are going home with lots of left overs, oh yea, they have 1/2 pount meatballs too, who needs that?

I can recall an episode of No Reservations, the show on the Travel Channel with Anthony Bourdain when he’s in some small 3rd world country and about to sit down with a family to eat. He makes a comment to the effect of – these people often feed their entire family with about 8oz of protein (fish, meat, chicken) and suppliment the rest with veggies and rice. In America, it’s almost expected that each person gets 8oz of protein on their plate and the veggies are often an add-on, but never the main focus.

My success over the last 6-7 weeks of loosing weight has been portion control. I eat more small meals through the day, stop before I feel full and avoid eating excessive appitizers when going out with friends. I’ve also near totally cut out all beverages with the exception of water to cut down on the calorie intake.

The drive-thru option that is available everywhere (even at pharmacists – what’s THAT all about!?) makes it all even more convenient for the person or family running late after a hard day at the office.

If you’re talking home-cooking versus a fancy restaurant, then of course it’ll be cheaper, but again to make that level of food takes a lot of work and preparation. It’s SO cheap to eat out in the States that if you’re on anything but a very modest income if must be difficult to turn down inviations out. Particularly as the range of options there are enormous, and in States like California it’s very easy to eat out healthily, too.

Krystal is I feel the American take on what Britons call ‘the kebab shop’. Opens late, people go there after the bar, etc. The food is of a dubious quality but you’re six to the wind it’s exactly what the doctor ordered.