Adherence
Using larger dinnerware (plates/bowls) increases food serving size, total consumption, and food waste due to visual consumption norms anchored by plate-fill levels, regardless of prior education about the bias.
If you are serving yourself at a buffet or using large plates at home, expect to serve, eat, and waste significantly more food than if you used smaller plates. Education or willpower will not fix this automatic visual bias. To reduce intake and waste without feeling deprived, switch to smaller plates (e.g., 21cm vs 26.5cm) to reset your visual consumption norm.
Study 2 shows Chinese buffet diners with large plates served 52% more, ate 45% more, and wasted 135% more food than those with smaller plates... Even a 60-min, interactive, multimedia warning on the dangers of using large plates had seemingly no impact... who subsequently served nearly twice as much food when given a large buffet plate 2 hr later (Study 3).
Why this rating
Multiple controlled studies (lab and field) with consistent findings, though field studies have self-selection limitations.
Source
Portion size me: Plate-size induced consumption norms and win-win solutions for reducing food intake and waste.
Brian Wansink et al. · Journal of Experimental Psychology Applied · 2013
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →