Can Bigger Forks Lead to Better Portion Control?

Question

According to a recent study, when people eat with bigger forks they actually *** up eating less. Could using bigger forks lead to better portion control?

Researchers Tamara M. Masters, Himanshu Mishra and Arul Mishra from the University of Utah, Salt Lake City conducted a field study to see if using different sized forks would alter the amount of food consumed by diners at an Italian restaurant.

Two sizes of forks were used in place settings to see if diners using larger utensils took larger bites.

The diners who received the larger fork did take larger bites, subsequently eating less than diners who used the smaller forks.

When using a larger fork, food is consumed in larger bites and the plate is emptied faster than when using a smaller fork and eating smaller bites.

The researchers believe that the emptier plate gives the brain visual triggers to signal to the stomach that it’s full earlier than when more food is left on the plate for a longer time.

What do you think? Can bigger forks lead to better portion control?

Answer 1

If you can't fit it in your mouth, you can't eat the food that's on it.

Answer 2

reinvent the size of my fork, and ill reinvent the size of a human mouthful. sorry, dont think that would really work on us americans.

Answer 3

Sorry. Totally disagree. More per forkful will still lead to overeating. Portion control along w/ exerciseand overal eating moderation is the secret to losing weight. I think the sun has fried the brains of the researchers. I have used a smaller 'granny fork' with 3 tines instead of 4 tines and found it frustrating to eat with it. No volume. Unsatisfied eating experience. Still ate the same amount with each, but it took longer to finish the plate with the 'granny fork'. Made no difference to my brain in the way of visual triggers.

Answer 4

I don't think it would make a difference for me either way. I get full very quickly. I am grateful that I cannot eat a lot of food in one sitting because I do enjoy unhealthy choices like chicken wings, pasta, cheeseburgers, cake, ice cream. If I had a big appetite I would be in trouble.

Answer 5

humans mind is the portion control

Answer 6

I thought the opposite. Smaller plates smaller forks. Thought it will trick the mind that were are getting more food then what we actual have. So we'll crave less.

This is really impractical or realistic no one will be using a larger fork from now on.

I heard a better idea of eating with our hand that you use less. Use left if right-handed and vice versa. Cause use to take a longer time eating. To enjoy it more and to be more full or satisfied.

Answer 7

Portion control is all about having self control/regulation. This research may help some but not all.

Answer 8

lol, it's not the size of your fork that makes you fat, I wonder what they will try to blame next other than the people themselves.

Answer 9

according to my fork i should be full...

Answer 10

...IT'S THE AMOUNT ON THE PLATE THAT MATTERS.

Answer 11

Yes....especially if you have a small mouth.

Oops! I answered before I saw the top opinion.

Answer 12

Possibly but I think smaller plates would work better.

Answer 13

It will however lead to more false teeth.

Answer 14

However, it may help some, so I'm not sure.

Answer 15

So what? The problem is not portion size, the problem is what people eat. If people would simply eat the foods that are physiologically appropiate for the human body, than we would not have anywhere near the health problems we have. Fruits, vegetables, seeds, flowers, herbs, etc that's what the human body is physiologically designed for. And your food should all be raw also. Or if you must have it heated, steamed is good, or stir fry on a gas or electric stove. Microwave ovens are dangerous, avoid those things like the plague!

Answer 16

Bigger Forks ,,,, Bigger Happy Meals,,, Bigger *****

Answer 17

Huh?????

Answer 18

How about smaller plates?

Answer 19

No its the amount of food that you get that determines how much you eat.

Answer 20

I think that smallerforks will contribute to ppportion control because I don't know about you guys... but the longer it takes me to eat I get fuller faster, so small fork small bites takes more time because it takes more bites fill up faster and eat less

Answer 21

Some studies are just stupid.

Answer 22

oversized eating tools lead to eating more. So no all you can eat forks please

Answer 23

LOL,how much did that study cost to carry out? Everyone eats at different rates and pile on different amounts onto their fork.Well known fact since I was a little girl,watching seven brothers eat.

Answer 24

I don't see how that would work, since you can always get more if it was really good.

Answer 25

Can bigger *******...

Answer 26

... did someone get their facts backwards??

SMALLER utensils, plates, etc lead to better portion control.

Obviously they didn't win the game of telephone.

Answer 27

I eat WAY too much no matter what size utensil i'm using... xD

Answer 28

will power is what helps with portion control. so sick of plate sizes and fork sizes being the concern. if you have no discipline you'll still stuff yourself.

Answer 29

I don't care what size the fork is, people are going to over eat if they choose to do so!

Answer 30

Smaller plates maybe but bigger forks??? Can they not research more important things than forks?? Personally, I dont see how the size of the fork would make a difference to how much I eat...

Answer 31

I think it might not be the fork, but the food. I usally can eat 2 helpings of spagetti no problem, but i couldn't even finish my first plate of linguini and it had about the same amount of pasta as I usally eat.

Answer 32

hey you never know! it would be something different to try

Answer 33

Putting less on your plate helps to better one's portion control. You don't need to pile it on like you're at a buffet every meal........

Answer 34

I limit my portions, so I can't see a larger fork or smaller fork impacting my intake of food.

Answer 35

Not in my case, generally I eat all that is on my plate regardless of the portion.

Answer 36

People tend to eat roughly the same calories each day, no matter the means of transportation from the platter to mouth.

Answer 37

What matters more than the quantity of food, is the quality... you can eat all the healthy steamed veggies you want, knock yourself out, just eat smaller portions of fatty foods.

Answer 38

Answer 39

Dumb