Faced with larger portions, children take bigger bites

Even young children are susceptible to the lure of a heaping plate.

Thirty preschoolers were served two series of four macaroni-and-cheese lunches. In one series, the portion was appropriate for their age, about a third to a half of a cup. In the other, the serving size was doubled. When served twice as much macaroni and cheese, the children ate 25% more and consumed 15% more calories from the entire meal.

The difference in quantity came down to a difference in bite size. When eating the large portion, children took the same number of bites but larger ones.

The children -- all of whom were younger than 6 -- turned out to be the best judges of how much food they needed. When allowed to serve themselves from bowls holding large portions, they took and ate significantly less food, says lead author Jennifer Fisher, assistant professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

“Minimizing children’s exposure to excessive portions may prevent overeating,” Fisher says. This study was published in the May issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

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-- Dianne Partie Lange