And Your Waistline Ran Away With the Spoon…

A study released on Thursday revealed that the size of the plates, bowls, glasses and even (yikes!) spoons we use influences how much we eat. This wasn’t the first study of its kind and over and over the conclusion seems to be that in general, we humans tend to adjust our portions to the size of the container (much like our tendency to fill up a bigger house with more stuff I suppose). In an unusual twist, this particular study used experts from a university’s nutrition department and even they took the bait (well, they’re human too!).

So, should you trade in your dishes and silverware for Hobbit sized versions? Well, if you’re trying to lose weight, it might not be a bad idea to invest in one downsized place setting. If you’re feeling especially sassy, rediscover your youth and pick up a kids’ set decorated with your favorite character or sports team (I saw a Dodgers set on eBay complete with plate, bowl, cup, spoon and fork!). Or, if that’s a bit over the top, spend a Saturday browsing through estate sales and antique shops – back in the day dishes (much like people) were a bit more dainty.

For more info on the study, check out this link: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_37467.html