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The Cornell Food & Brand Lab

Beating Mindless Eating

Super Bowls: Serving Bowl Size and Food Consumption

Summary

Students at a super bowl party who were given large serving bowls served themselves 53% (146 calories) more and consumed 56% (142 calories) more than those who used smaller bowls. The concept of "portion distortion" arises when a large serving bowl signals to the consumer that it is appropriate to consume a larger amount of food. Further research can use these same consumption cues in an attempt to promote increased consumption of healthy foods and decreased consumption of unhealthy foods.

For more information see Wansink, Brian and Matthew M. Cheney (2005), "Super Bowls: Serving Bowl Size and Food Consumption," JAMA – Journal of the American Medical Association, 293:14 (April 13), 1727–1728. Copyright © 2005, American Medical Association. All Rights reserved

Contact:
Brian Wansink, PhD
Food and Brand Lab, Director
110 Warren Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
Email: foodandbrandlab@cornell.edu

*The study was conducted at the University of Illinois, former location of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab.