People nowadays have no idea what a healthy portion size is, according to a journalist who took on the challenge of eating like it was the 1970s.

Writing in The UK’s Daily Telegraph, Liz Hoggard said the challenge showed her the “madness of the modern diet”.

She used a portion-control plate to work out the right amount of food in the right proportions and found that while we might flatter ourselves that we are eating healthier, we are eating huge portions when compared to those enjoyed in the 70s’.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, she said the project was a real eye-opener.

“I hadn’t realised how out of control we are about portion sizes,” she said.

“None of us really know what a portion is in this modern world where you can have everything delivered to you and there are 24-hour supermarkets and supersize restaurant menus.”

Ms Hoggard said she used an ‘adult controlled portion plate’ and a guide from the British Dietetic Association to keep herself on-track throughout the diet.

“The plate felt very childish but actually, it was very helpful,” she said.

“What I realised is, although the diet in the 70s’ perhaps wasn’t always perfect, we did have smaller portions.

“I can remember my dad cutting up a small pork pie to have with salad for five of us. Even if we did have something like Angel Delight, Granny would set it in a glass in the larder so you couldn’t help yourself to the bowl.”

“[It meant we had] portion control.”

Portion sizes. Image: British Dietetic Association

Ms Hoggard noted that the modern phenomenon of ultra-processed foods has led to a class divide where people on lower incomes are more likely to be eating unhealthy, fattening foods.

“Then most of us have lost basic cooking skills,” she said. “They are life skills really.

“That was a good thing, I learned to cook from scratch more because then you know what is going in things.

“It was just such a fascinating thing to measure out 75 grams of pasta and realise that is your portion - whereas we generally just judge in our hand don’t we and throw it in the pan.”

1970s style

The Daily Telegraph journalist said she will continue to incorporate parts of what she learned into her diet.

“I think I learned as time went on to pad out the diet with more veg and salad and that sort of thing,” she said.

“I wouldn’t want it to sound punitive. I would rather be fit than thin and food is a huge pleasure in my life so I certainly wasn’t going to get rid of it, but I think it is a question of resetting.”

Eating out

She said she also orders differently in restaurants now – perhaps sharing a starter and a pizza with a friend and padding it out with an interesting salad.

She admitted she sometimes found she was still hungry in the evenings but said she is no longer strict about that.

“I think it’s just allowing yourself a bit of time - giving yourself 10 or 15 minutes - and if you’re still starving, fine, go back in the fridge, but quite often, you can distract yourself.”

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