Overeating can be curbed by reducing bowl and plate sizes

By Abigail Mellier, April 28th, 2013 | Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Bigger scoops and bigger bowls led a group of nutrition experts to increase their serving size at an experimental ice cream party.
Rather than embark on a campaign of massive food deprivation, the best approach to dealing with obesity is to make small, manageable and even subtle changes in food consumption. According to a study from researchers at Cornell University, even the crockery you eat from can make a difference to serving size. And reducing serving size can have an important impact on tackling obesity.

The researchers threw an experimental ice cream party for a group of food experts. They were given either 17 ounce or 34 ounce bowls and invited to serve themselves with either two or three ounce scoops. Then the impact on serving size was assessed as each helping was weighed. Doubling bowl size increased serving size by 31 per cent. The bigger scoop increased serving size by 14.5 per cent. Although the experts, when asked, knew the calorie content of their serving size better than the average American they still took more when given bigger bowls and spoons. The researchers feel that lack of knowledge on serving size may be one of the major factors driving overeating. So a simple tip might be to use smaller plates and bowls so your serving size fills them up. Bigger containers and serving scoops may lead to overeating.