Portion Size Controlled By Plate Size

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Researchers from the Center for Obesity Research and Education in Philadelphia studied a group of young children and watched the way they ate.

The children were allowed to serve themselves, but over the course of 8 lunches, they had either 7.25 inch or 10.25 inch plates. The amount of food they had served themselves was quietly weighed.

The results were dramatic: children consumed more food, including fruit, when the plate was larger. It adds to the theory that larger portion sizes can be controlled by using smaller plates and bowls. Not a bad idea.