Why the Size of Bowls and Spoons Influences Food Intake

Abstract

Because we eat much of our food from plates, bowls, and spoons, it is important to know how and why the size of these bowls and spoons might influence food intake. Building on the Ebbinghaus-Titchener size-contrast illusion, we suggest that large bowls and spoons bias how much we intend to serve and how much we think we have served. A controlled study, at an ice cream social, shows that people who were randomly given bigger bowls and spoons served significantly more than those who received smaller bowls and spoons, even though they were unaware of this. Implications for research and controlling food intake are discussed.

Keywords: serving size, utensil size, ice cream, food intake, consumer behavior, obesity