How Large Food Packaging Tricks Your Appetite
When we see a giant plate of pancakes or a huge bowl of pasta, we naturally take bigger bites and eat faster than we would with smaller portions.
We simply love large servings — and we tend to eat more when food is served in abundance. A tall stack of pancakes looks far more tempting than just one or two on a plate. That’s why food advertisements always showcase overflowing plates and generous portions — they look more appealing and satisfying.
However, eating quickly prevents our bodies from recognizing when we’re full. This means that when we’re served oversized portions, we often eat past the point of fullness before our brain has the chance to signal us to stop.
A tall stack of pancakes looks far more tempting than just one or two on a plate.
1. The Psychology Behind Large Packages
Brian Wansink, a professor at Cornell University and a former executive director at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, has conducted groundbreaking studies on how our environment and psychology unconsciously drive us to overeat. His research shows that portion size is one of the biggest culprits behind mindless eating.
For example, when college students were served a 13-ounce (368 g) portion of macaroni and cheese instead of a 9-ounce (255 g) portion, they ate 43% more — an extra 172 calories.
2. Why Bigger Plates and Packages Make Us Eat More
According to Wansink’s findings, the size of the plate and the packaging both matter. When food was served in larger containers or on bigger plates, people ate up to 50% more snacks and as much as 25% more during main meals, compared to smaller plates or packages.
Surprisingly, we even eat more of foods we don’t like when they’re served in larger portions. In another study, moviegoers in Philadelphia were given either medium or large buckets of two-week-old, stale popcorn. Even though they rated the popcorn’s taste only 2 out of 9, those with large buckets ate 34% more than those with medium ones.
In another study, moviegoers in Philadelphia were given either medium or large buckets of two-week-old, stale popcorn.
3. The Illusion of “Normal” Portions
Large packaging doesn’t just make food look more appealing — it tricks our brains into underestimating how much we’re actually eating. A study in Belgium found that when participants were given a standard serving of M&M’s (200 g) — just a bit more than four regular packs — they ate twice as much when the candy was placed in a 750 ml container compared to a smaller 250 ml one.
Why? Because the larger, half-empty package creates a visual illusion — it looks like there isn’t much inside. Our brains misinterpret both the empty space and the perceived “normal” portion size, leading us to eat more than intended.
4. The Role of Distraction
To make matters worse, participants in the study were allowed to eat while watching TV. As other research shows, screen time is one of the strongest triggers for mindless overeating. When distracted, we lose track of how much we consume, and large packaging only amplifies this effect.
5. The Takeaway
Next time you open a family-sized snack bag or sit down to a supersized meal, remember this:
Bigger doesn’t mean better — it means you’ll likely eat more.
Even when the food isn’t that tasty, large portions and oversized packaging can still trick your appetite.
So be mindful, serve smaller portions, and choose modest packages. Your waistline — and your long-term health — will thank you.
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