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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
04:46
'Boden Food Plate': Novel Interactive Web-based Method for the Assessment of Dietary Intake
Published on: September 18, 2018
Using a smaller plate did not reduce energy intake at meals.
Barbara J Rolls1, Liane S Roe, Kitti H Halverson
1Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, 226 Henderson Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA. bjr4@psu.edu
Appetite
|June 2, 2007
Summary
Changing plate size did not significantly alter energy intake in laboratory meals. Using smaller plates did not reduce overall food consumption, despite participants making more trips to a buffet.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Portion control is a key strategy for weight management.
- Plate size is a potential environmental factor influencing food consumption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of varying plate sizes on energy intake during meals.
- To determine if smaller plates lead to reduced food consumption.
Main Methods:
- Three cross-over experiments were conducted with adult participants.
- Participants consumed the same meal using different plate sizes (17, 22, 26 cm) or selected from a buffet.
- Energy intake was measured by weighing food consumed.
Main Results:
- Plate size had no significant effect on the total energy intake.
- Observed differences in intake between smallest and largest plates were minimal (<142 kJ).
- Participants using the smallest plate made more trips to the buffet in a selection task.
Conclusions:
- Plate size does not appear to be a significant determinant of energy intake in controlled laboratory settings.
- Smaller plates did not reduce overall food consumption in this study.
- Behavioral adjustments, like increased buffet trips, may compensate for perceived portion size differences.
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