You've likely heard about the study showing that smaller plates can help curb overeating by tricking your brain into perceiving fuller portions. Now, new research from the Cornell Food & Brand Lab shifts focus to the size of the table where we dine.
Published in a leading U.S. publication, this expert study from the renowned Cornell Food & Brand Lab—pioneers in consumer food behavior—tested the effect with pizza. Researchers sliced some pizzas into eight pieces (standard portions) and others into 16 smaller slices. They served small portions on both small and large tables, and standard portions similarly.
219 children gathered around the tables, free to eat as much as they liked. Afterward, they reported their consumption—and the results were striking. Children with small pizza slices at small tables ate twice as much as those at large tables.
The team pinpointed an optical illusion: a spacious table makes small portions appear larger, satisfying the mind more effectively. Lead researcher Brennan Davis concluded, "To eat less, serve food in small portions on large tables."
