Researchers confirmed, once again, that if people are offered larger-sized portions or packages they will eat more. Larger dishes and utensils also encourage overeating more than smaller-sized versions.
The researchers looked at people from age 3 to their mid-50s and the results were the same. Offer more and people simple eat more. When given drinks in shorter, wider bottles and glasses, people drank more than when served in taller, slimmer containers. The daily increase in calories was small, just 12% to 16% more than the usual amount of calories that would have been eaten. For example if a person needs 1500 calories a day, but the packages or dishes they have on hand encourage them to eat more, each day they will be eating somewhere between 180 or 240 calories extra. If you multiply this amount over days, weeks, months and years it will add up to extra pounds.
To find out more about keeping portions under control take a look at our latest eBook the Calorie Counter.
