The effects of degree of acquaintance, plate size, and sharing on food intake

This study examined the effects of degree of acquaintance, plate size, and sharing on the amount of pasta individuals served themselves and subsequently consumed and whether or not they took second helpings. Fifty-seven pairs of female participants ate a meal of pasta; the members of each pair were either friends or strangers. During the meal, they served themselves either from a common serving bowl or from individual serving bowls and onto either small or large plates. The findings indicated that participants who ate with a friend served and consumed more than those who ate with a stranger, and those who shared served and consumed less than those who did not share. However, this sharing effect seemed to occur only when participants ate from small plates. Whether or not participants reported taking second helpings was influenced by all three of the independent variables.