Outsmart Obesity Tip #1: Leave the serving bowls in the kitchen, especially if you are a man eating pasta.

We have all heard the expression “Out of sight, out of mind.” Well this appears to be true regarding how much we eat as well.

A researcher from Cornell (link to study details) performed a lunchtime experiment with 78 university staff. Groups of 3-4 staff were given a meal of pasta, apple sauce and pudding that was self-served from a counter. For some of the groups the food was then left on the counter, and for some it was then moved to the table where they were sitting.
All of the participants were told to help themselves and given 45 minutes at the table. Serving sizes, intake and food waste were measured. Participants estimated how many calories they consumed and how full they felt after eating. Here is what was found:

• Men ate 29% fewer total calories when serving bowls were moved from the table to the counter. Think about that. 29% fewer calories!
• The difference in calories eaten between groups for women was not statistically significant.
• The differences found were due to differences in how much pasta was eaten, not apple sauce or pudding.
• All of the participants in both groups thought they ate about the same number of calories.
• All of the participants thought they were equally full after eating.

I personally use this information mentally. I don’t want to subject my family to a change of serving bowl location, so I pretend that the serving bowls are not on the table. Once I fill my plate and eat, I consider the serving bowls, and therefore second helpings, off limits. Believe it or not, it actually works! The craving I have for a second helping actually goes away. At least most of the time.