(05-08-11) Use of a big fork may make you eat less

by Mary West
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(NaturalNews) The simple measure of using a big fork may assist dieting efforts by preventing overconsumption in restaurants. When given generous portions of food, restaurant patrons who use plus-sized forks eat significantly less than those who use smaller utensils, according to a new study published in the Journal of Consumer Research.

In the investigation, University of Utah scientists doubling as waiters, monitored patrons at an Italian restaurant for two days as they ate with a fork that was either 20% larger or 20% smaller than a standard-sized fork. The quantity of food consumed was determined by weighing the plates before they were given to customers and again, after they were returned to the kitchen.

Patrons who used a big fork to attack a plate served with large portions were found to eat much less: New York Daily News reports. The results differed, however, when patrons were served smaller portions. In these cases, fork size had no influence on the amount of food eaten. Researchers postulate that the difference could be due to the fact that whenpeople eat from a plate piled high with food it is harder to gage the quantity of food consumed.

As provocative as the results may seem, it is not the first time research shows that visual cues may play a role in governing the amount of food people eat. Earlier studies reveal that big plates appear to cause people to eat more.

In analyzing the current study's results, researchers concluded that a small fork provides an impression that little progress is being made in satiating hunger, which leads to moreconsumption. Coauthor Arul Mishra explains that feelings of satiation involve a time lag, during which diners may focus on visual cues to assess how much they have eaten.

The authors elaborate that our grandmothers advised us to eat small bites and chew well to avoid overeating. They point out that given the fact that people lead busy lives and frequently eat in restaurants, if they are not chewing longer, then eating with a bigger fork can aid in curtailing overconsumption.

HealthDay notes that the big fork was only beneficial in a restaurant setting. Researchers explain that eating at home may involve different goals regarding hunger satiation than eating in a restaurant.

Investigators suggest that overeating may be avoided if people learn to recognize and understand hunger cues and the quantity of food they should eat.

http://consumer.healthday.com/Artic...

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyl...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_...

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