Size does matter

Many Americans wonder how Europeans are able to stay so relatively thin (comparatively speaking, anyway) when they are known for sometimes eating less-than-healthy foods. To begin solving this mystery, it's first worth mentioning that many Europeans' diets are more healthy than you realize; foods such as fish, olive oil, red wine and many others are quite popular. The major difference, though, has more to do with portion size.

The 3 square meals a day dietary construct is fundamentally American, one that is seldom followed by other industrialized nations. In lieu of eating three large mega-meals, many Europeans will eat several small meals throughout the course of the day. This adjustment, by itself, can have a significant impact on metabolism, as can the size of the portions consumed. Think of it this way: Even if you're eating healthy foods, it's not wise to eat massive amounts of them in one sitting. For example, bananas are healthy, right? Right indeed. But, if you were to eat three bananas in a row, you've just consumed far too many calories, carbs and sugars. Now, apply this logic to foods that aren't particularly good for you, and you'll soon see why eating such large portions of food is a surefire way to pack on the pounds.

Apparently, the new diet trend follows this portion size approach, using specially-designed plates and bowls to ensure that portions are kept under control.