I was watching the Maroon 5 episode of Top Chef Masters, and I was amazed at all the food they were served. I saw decent portions of every food item on all dishes, and even just a taste of everything served at the two consecutive meals would’ve had me groaning on the floor. Every week these very thin people seem to eat at least twice what I eat at a setting. Is there some trickery going on?
I don’t think they necessarily eat everything on the plate every time, and it’s probably their one major meal of the day. Note during the quickfire challenges they are often presented with a whole plate of food, sometimes a whole steak or piece of fish, and the host and judge only take one bite of each dish.
Also, often times they have the “cheftestants” bring 2 plates of 2 different dishes and the judges pass them around, especially early in the season when there are still over a dozen contestants.
Read this article about Padma Lakshmi, who is the only person on the show who tastes everything made during every episode. Basically she works out a lot and eats sparingly when not on the show.
This isn’t Top Chef, but on a “behind-the-scenes” episode of No Reservations they showed that during shooting days, Anthony Bourdain has to starve himself most of the day so that he can stuff himself while on camera.
Same thing with the Man Vs. Food guy. He basically doesn’t eat the day before.
This is why food proportions are much smaller in places where you get to try food. Just not on TV. (Iron Chef may do it right. I haven’t watched the new version.)