Okay…so I had to laugh when I thought about the key question of the week:  What causes portion creep?  How about a buffet in a foreign country whose foods I’m not very familiar with!?!  At my orientation in South Korea, all of our meals are provided in a dining hall…buffet style.  There are so many interesting choices – I just have to try them all!  One day

I even had fried octopus.  It was really good!  I’m sort of glad I didn’t find out what it was until after I ate it so that my perception wasn’t swayed in the wrong direction.

Confession Time:  I have not risen to the challenge of portion control over the past week.  Granted, I didn’t have very large portions of all the things I’ve tried, but Koreans eat a lot of side dishes with their meals.  Usually the side dishes are shared by the table but not when it’s buffet style.  Even with small helpings, I’ve definitely had my plates fuller than they needed to be. 

So…I could feel guilty and beat myself up, but that doesn’t get me anywhere.  Instead, I’m just going to enjoying trying new things and then get back on track once orientation is over.  By then, I should have a general idea of what I do and don’t like.  Hey, it’s important to figure these things out early on…right?

A sampling of Korean side dishes.

BE A PORTION PRO

How to be a portion pro –

It’s all about what you know!

It sure would be dandy

If portion tools were always handy.

At times we do have to eyeball.

So start with a plate that’s small.

Guesstimate using well-known hints.

Instead of seconds, grab a mint.

Resist the urge to pile it on.

And excess wait will soon be gone.

Learn to be a portion pro,

So your waist won’t continue to grow!