How do we know that household sizes are getting smaller?

Half pie at IGA, Vancouver

In my primary school can I only recall one "only child". Everyone else came from families of two to eight children.

But these days, for most families in Canada, two children seems to be the upper limit, not the starting point.

And how can we tell that household sizes are getting smaller? Packaging like this 1/2 pie at IGA.

Finally, a drink that is a sensible size (Too bad it is still just made with Starbucks artificially-flavoured coffee syrup)

Sign promoting the new Mini Frappuccino, Vancouver, BC 

Child's hand (for scale) on the Sign promoting the new Mini Frappuccino, Vancouver, BC 

Sign promoting the new Mini Frappuccino, Vancouver, BC (Detail)

Starbucks has been known for offering high calorie beverages in enormous sizes. (A common failing for most North American quick service restaurants.)

So it is interesting that Starbucks is making a big deal out of producing a 10 ounce beverage that "only" has 300 calories instead of the regular 480 for the 16 ounce size.

But all of this discussion is somewhat moot. Even the smaller size will not be attractive to consumers if the coffee flavour is no good. And many consumers seem to be waking up to the fact that there are better coffee beverages available, many of them made with real coffee instead of an artificially-flavoured coffee syrup.