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 Portion 

Distortion

 Quiz 

You’ve probably noticed that food portions in restaurants and 

other places have grown in size and provide enough food for at 

least two people. Larger portion sizes can lead to bigger waistlines 

and weight gain. 

Take this Portion Distortion Quiz to see whether you know how today’s 

portions compare to the portions available 20 years ago. The answers 

are on the back, along with the amount of physical activity required to 

burn off the extra calories provided by today’s portions. 

1. 	 A bagel 20 years ago was 3 inches in diameter and had 140 calories. 

How many calories do you think are in today’s bagel? 

a. 150 calories 

b. 250 calories 

c. 350 calories 

2. 	 A cheeseburger 20 years ago had 330 calories. How many calories do 

you think are in today’s cheeseburger? 

a. 590 calories 

b. 620 calories 

c. 700 calories 

3. 	 A 6.5-ounce serving of soda had 85 calories 20 years ago. How many 

calories do you think are in today’s serving? 

a. 200 calories 

b. 250 calories 

c. 300 calories 

4. 	 A small portion of French fries (2.4 ounces) 20 years ago had 

210 calories. How many calories do you think are in today’s 

portion size? 

a. 590 calories 

b. 610 calories 

c. 650 calories 

5. 	 A portion of spaghetti and meatballs 20 years ago had 500 calories. 

How many calories do you think are in today’s portion of spaghetti 

and meatballs? 

a. 600 calories 

b. 800 calories 

c. 1,025 calories 
 

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* 6. 	 A cup of coffee with whole milk and sugar 20 years ago was 8 fluid 

ounces and had 45 calories. How many calories do you think are in 

today’s mocha coffee? 

a. 100 calories 

b. 350 calories 

c. 450 calories 

7. 	 A muffin 20 years ago was 1.5 ounces and had 210 calories. 

How many calories do you think are in a muffin today? 

a. 320 calories 

b. 400 calories 

c. 500 calories 

8. 	 Two slices of pepperoni pizza 20 years ago had 500 calories. How 

many calories do you think are in today’s pizza slices? 

a. 850 calories 

b. 1,000 calories 

c. 1,200 calories 

9. 	 A chicken Caesar salad (11⁄2 cups) had 390 calories 20 years ago. 

How many calories do you think are in today’s chicken Caesar salad? 

a. 520 calories 

b. 650 calories 

c. 790 calories 

10. 	A (3-cup) box of “buttered” popcorn had 270 calories 20 years ago. 

How many calories do you think are in today’s tub of popcorn? 

a. 520 calories 

b. 630 calories 

c. 820 calories 

Thank you for taking the Portion Distortion Quiz. We hope it was 

fun and insightful. Check out more on portion distortion at 

http://hp2010.nhlbin.net/portion/. 

We also hope that the next time you eat out, you will think twice about 

the food portions offered to you. NIH Publication No. 10-7413 November 2009 

Answers 

 for a 6-inch bagel. If you rake leaves for 50 minutes, you’ll burn the extra c. 350 calories 1. 	

210 calories.* 

 You’ll need to lift weights for 1 hour and 30 minutes to burn the extra a. 590 calories. 2. 	

approximately 257 calories.* 

 for a 20-ounce soda. If you work in the garden for 35 minutes, you will b. 250 calories 3. 	

burn the extra 165 calories.** 

 for a large (6.9-ounce) portion of French fries. If you walk leisurely for b. 610 calories 4. 	

1 hour and 10 minutes, you will burn the extra 400 calories.** 

 for a portion consisting of 2 cups of pasta with sauce and three large c. 1,025 calories 5. 	

meatballs. If you houseclean for 2 hours and 35 minutes, you will burn approximately 

525 calories.* 

 for a 16-fl uid-ounce cup of coff ee with whole milk and mocha syrup. If b. 350 calories 6. 	

you walk for approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes, you will burn the extra 305 calories.* 

 for a 5-ounce muffin. If you vacuum for approximately 1 hour and c. 500 calories 7. 	

30 minutes, you will burn the extra 310 calories.* 

 for two slices of pizza. If you play golf (while walking and carrying your a. 850 calories 8. 	

clubs) for 1 hour, you will burn the extra 350 calories.** 

 for a 3-cup portion. If you walk the dog for 1 hour and 20 minutes, you c. 790 calories 9.	 

will burn the extra 400 calories.** 

 for a (7-cup) tub of “buttered” popcorn. If you do water aerobics for b. 630 calories 10. 

1 hour and 15 minutes, you will burn the extra 360 calories.** 

Based on a 130-pound person. 

Based on a 160-pound person. **