Restaurant diners were warned today that size really does matter if they want to avoid heart disease and obesity.
Eating smaller portions is part of a Happy Heart Eat Outcampaign launched by the Irish Heart Foundation to promote healthy eating in restaurants.
Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) dietician Janis Morrissey said: "By watching your portion size and filling up on more fruit and vegetables, you are eating healthier, helping to maintain and even lose weight and of course looking after your heart."
TV chef Neven Maguire, who is backing the scheme, said: "More and more customers are looking for lighter and healthier food choices and it is possible not to compromise on taste quality or variety, especially with the range of fresh meat, fish fruit and vegetables available in this country."
The campaign is supported by the Restaurants Association of Ireland and the Health Promotion Unit of the Department of Health and Children.
As part of the scheme, 650 restaurants, hotels, pubs and workplaces have agreed to provide low-fat, low-salt choices with lots of fruit and vegetables.
In addition, all 93 O'Brien's sandwich bars around the country will actively promote healthier sandwich and wrap options for the campaign, and more than a hundred staff restaurants in workplaces are on board, the IHF said.
The foundation has also produced a recipe booklet targeting chefs and consumers which has "seriously tempting and easy to cook" recipes from previous Happy Heart Eat Outcampaigns and a selection by Mr Maguire.
According to the foundation, 11,000 Irish people die each year from heart disease, stroke and other circulatory diseases.
Around 39 per cent of Irish adults are overweight and 18 per cent are obese, and about one third of premature heart disease deaths relate to poor diet, the IHF said.
With 28 per cent of eating occasions taking place outside the home, the foundation said it was very important for people to watch what they were eating when they "ate out".
PA