Bigger bites ensure lesser eating
July 15th, 2011 - 3:36 pm ICT by IANSWashington, July 15 (IANS) Larger portions at restaurants usually mean we tend to eat more, but surprisingly bigger bites lead to eating less.
“We examined the influence of small versus large bite-sizes on overall quantity of food consumed,” write study authors Arul Mishra, Himanshu Mishra, and Tamara M. Masters from the University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
They conducted a field study at a popular Italian restaurant. They used two fork sizes to manipulate bite sizes and found that diners who used large forks ate less than those with small forks, according to new study in the Journal of Consumer Research,.
“Diners can satisfy their hunger by choosing, eating, and paying for their food — all of which involve effort. The fork size provided the diners with a means to observe their goal progress,” the authors explain, according to an Utah statement.
The authors tested this conclusion by varying the quantities of food. They found that when the initial quantity of food was more (a well-loaded plate), diners with small forks ate significantly more than those with large forks.
When customers were served small servings, the fork size did not affect the amount of food.
Interestingly, in a lab experiment the authors found that participants with small forks consumed less than those with large forks.
–Indo-Asian News service
st/mn/vt
- Food in small packets make people eat more - Oct 28, 2011
- Eating wisely calls for self-control: Study - Sep 12, 2012
- Misleading size labels encourage 'guiltless gluttony' amongst consumers - Nov 16, 2010
- Fast food can push you into depression - Apr 01, 2012
- 8 out of 10 US diners willing to pay more to eat at 'green' restaurants! - Dec 08, 2010
- Fish behaviour changes in front of onlookers - Jul 14, 2011
- Sheer habit leads to mindless snacking - Sep 02, 2011
- Chocolates may help you stay slim - Mar 27, 2012
- Keep an eye on your food to watch your weight - Aug 21, 2010
- A big breakfast 'won't help you shed those pounds' - Jan 17, 2011
- Genes and brain centers that regulate meal size in flies identified - May 21, 2010
- Mega-sized coffee, energy drinks 'laden with excess sugar, calories' - Feb 04, 2011
- Berries cut Parkinson's risk by 40 percent - Apr 05, 2012
- Trick the mind into satisfying the belly - Jul 13, 2010
- Limiting salt intake checks BP, protects heart - Aug 13, 2011
Tags: asian news, conclusion, diners, himanshu, hunger, indo, initial quantity, italian restaurant, journal of consumer research, lab experiment, masters, news service, participants, quantities, salt lake city, study authors, tamara, university of utah, utah salt lake, utah salt lake city