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Party Tip: Big Serving Plates = Big Calories

'Portion Distortion' at Work, Says Sneaky Party Planner

By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Health News

April 12, 2005 -- Attention, party hosts: Think dainty, not hefty, for serving plates. That will help guests keep their calories in check, says a study in The Journal of the American Medical Association.

It doesn't matter if it's a formal gathering with your best china or a summertime potluck cookout with paper plates and plastic cutlery. As serving plates get bigger, calories go up.serving plates get bigger, calories go up.

Just ask Brian Wansink, PhD, of Cornell University. He helped throw a Super Bowl party that proved the point.

Party With a Purpose

Talk about mixing business with pleasure. Forty grad students attended the Super Bowl party. Upon arrival, they were told that they might be asked about "food and commercials in a party environment, such as at a Super Bowl party."

After that, they were led to one of two buffet tables. Both tables had the same snacks -- roasted nuts and a pretzel/chip mix.

The only difference between the tables was the size of the serving bowls.size of the serving bowls. One table had two big bowls of the snacks. The other had the same amount of food split into four medium-sized bowls.

Partygoers served themselves, but before they took a bite, a research assistant swooped in to weigh their plates. They weren't allowed to get drinks before serving themselves snacks.

Second helpings were out of the question. After everyone had served themselves, the food was whisked away.

What Would Miss Manners Say?

An hour later, the party got a little more unusual. Everyone completed a questionnaire, the plates were picked up, and any leftovers on the plates were noted.

People who served themselves from the large bowls took bigger helpings and ate morelarge bowls took bigger helpings and ate more of it. They took 53% more and ate 56% more than those who used the smaller serving bowls. That equaled 142 extra calories consumed.

Men ate more than women. Serving bowl size and food consumption was significant for men, but not for women.

Clue for Consumption

Serving bowl size may subtly tell guests how much they're supposed to eat, writes Wansink, who has written on marketing nutrition and mindless eating. He also directs Cornell's Food and Brand Lab, which focuses on the psychology behind what people eat and why.

Could big serving bowls of fruits and vegetables prompt people to eat more of those good-for-you foods? Good question, says Wansink, who doesn't know the answer yet. You could try it yourself and see, since most people could stand to eat more produce.

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