How portion sizes have changed over 25 years

We’ve hear a lot about how much smaller our favourite chocolate treats have become.

But, while we may lament a shrinking chocolate bar, many everyday foods have actually exploded in size.

These larger portions now threaten people’s health by encouraging them to overeat, according to experts from Cambridge University, including the government’s chief adviser on obesity.

Thanks to a government publication from 25 years ago – Food Portion Sizes, produced in 1993 by the Food Standards Agency – we can see how big the increases are.

Here, Tessa Cunningham compares the sizes and calorific content of everyday food products and ready meals from the guide with the same items in today’s supermarket aisles.

Showing how much you got then compared to now, the results are truly shocking…  

Good snack gone bad: The crumpet was once rather healthy, but now packs 26 extra calories

Crumpets 

A teatime favourite, a 71-calorie crumpet in the Nineties was a good, low-calorie option, even with butter and jam. But the 2018 version is over a third bigger and with toppings, it will take you over the 100-calorie mark.

1993: Crumpet 40g. Calories: 71

2018: Warburtons 6-pack crumpets, 90p, Tesco, 55g (per crumpet). Calories: 97 (each)

EXTRA SIZE: 38%, EXTRA CALORIES: 26

Food for thought: The recommended portion size for pork pies has doubled in two decades

Food for thought: The recommended portion size for pork pies has doubled in two decades

Pork Pie 

No one thinks a pork pie is a healthy option — the 2018 serving here (half a pie) has 66 per cent of your saturated fat per day. Yet, astonishingly, the recommended portion size has doubled in just two decades, so the number of calories you consume has doubled as well.

1993: Pork pie, 60g. Calories: 214

2018: Sainsbury’s medium pork pie (serves 2), £2, 290g. Calories (for half) 517 

EXTRA SIZE: 142% EXTRA CALORIES: 303

Then and now: Since 1993 the humble fish pie has accrued an extra 130 calories per meal

Then and now: Since 1993 the humble fish pie has accrued an extra 130 calories per meal

Fish Pie 

Packed with omega 3, any dish that is mainly made of fish ought to be a healthy option. Unfortunately the creamy sauce and mash that make fish pie so moreish also leave it high in fat and salt. Today’s ready meal from Asda contains 13g of saturated fat. 

1993: Fish pie for one, 320g. Calories: 317 

2018: Asda Classic Fish Pie, serves one, £2.40, 450g. Calories: 447 

EXTRA SIZE: 40%, EXTRA CALORIES: 130 

Less is more! Today’s portion of shepherd's pie provides a whopping 200 more calories

Less is more! Today’s portion of shepherd’s pie provides a whopping 200 more calories

Shepherd’s Pie 

This nursery staple of lamb mince, mashed potato and vegetables sounds like a balanced meal. But today’s portion provides a whopping 200 more calories than the versions around in the Nineties. With 1.7g of salt, it has more than a quarter of an adult woman’s recommended daily salt intake. 

1993: Shepherd’s pie for one, 210g. Calories: 179

2018: Tesco Shepherd’s Pie for one, £2.50, 450g. Calories: 383

EXTRA SIZE: 114% EXTRA CALORIES: 204

How things change: 25 years ago the average lasagne contained 400 calories, now it has 621

How things change: 25 years ago the average lasagne contained 400 calories, now it has 621

Lasagne 

The Mediterranean diet of fresh fish, tomatoes and vegetables is one of the healthiest in the world — but rich, creamy pasta dishes are calorific. Most Italians only consume pasta in small portions as a starter, while the carbohydrate-heavy dish is a favourite British main course.

1993: Lasagne ready meal for one, 290g. Calories: 400.

2018: Asda Italian Beef Lasagne, £2.40, 450g. Calories: 621.

EXTRA SIZE: 55%, EXTRA CALORIES: 221

Excessive: Our Texan approach to portion control means we consume 637 calories here

Excessive: Our Texan approach to portion control means we consume 637 calories here

Chilli Con Carne

A spicy dish of mince, peppers, tomatoes and beans, this wouldn’t be too bad if it was eaten in a small bowl like the Spanish intended. Unfortunately, we have adopted the Texan model of a huge plateful served with lots of calorific white rice.

1993: Chilli con carne ready meal, 290g. Calories: 411

2018: Waitrose Classic Chilli Con Carne with rice, £2.60, 450g. Calories: 637

EXTRA SIZE: 55%, EXTRA CALORIES : 226

Fat chance! Today's chicken curry has almost 600 calories — nearly 200 more than in 1993

Fat chance! Today’s chicken curry has almost 600 calories — nearly 200 more than in 1993

Chicken Curry 

We love curry so much it is considered by many to be our national dish, but the creamy sauces we favour in the UK mean it should be an occasional treat. At almost one-third fat, a portion today contains almost 600 calories — nearly 200 more than in 1993.

1993: Chicken curry with rice, 290g. Calories: 426

2018: Asda Chicken Curry and Rice for one, £1, 400g. Calories: 588 

EXTRA SIZE: 38% EXTRA CALORIES: 162

Indulgent: The modern scotch egg  contains nearly half your recommended fat intake for a day

Indulgent: The modern scotch egg contains nearly half your recommended fat intake for a day

Scotch Eggs

Packed with delicious meat — who couldn’t love a Scotch egg? You may change your mind when you know that today one contains nearly half your recommended fat intake for a day. The size has gone up 17 per cent . . . so it’s now even less healthy.

1993: Scotch egg, 120g. Calories: 375

2018: Waitrose Succulent Scotch Egg, £1.39, 140g. Calories: 438

EXTRA SIZE: 17%, EXTRA CALORIES : 63

Family favourite: In 1993, the average buns were a small 140 calories, no they are 196 calories

Family favourite: In 1993, the average buns were a small 140 calories, no they are 196 calories

Hot Cross Buns 

The supermarkets are already stocking this Easter favourite of a spiced sweet bun filled with raisins or currants. In 1993, the average buns were a small 140 calories — a nice treat. Today’s are far more generous, so you’ll consume far more sugar as a result.

1993: Hot cross bun, 50g. Calories: 140

2018: Tesco Hot Cross buns, 6-pack, £1.70g per bun. Calories: 196 (per bun) 

EXTRA SIZE: 40%, EXTRA CALORIES: 56

Naughty: One bagel contains almost the same calories as a Mars Bar due to refined white flour

Naughty: One bagel contains almost the same calories as a Mars Bar due to refined white flour

Bagels 

Believe it or not, bagels are surprisingly high in calories and sugar — just one contains almost as many calories as a Mars Bar thanks to the refined white flour. In 1993, they were almost a third smaller.

1993: Plain bagel, 70g. Calories: 180

2018: New York Bakery Co original plain bagels, 5-pack, £1.50, Asda, 90g (per bagel). Calories: 232 (each)

EXTRA SIZE: 29%, EXTRA CALORIES : 52 



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