The Science Behind Why We Eat More When We're in Company
Have you ever thought about why it is you tend to go home after dinner with friends feeling a lot fuller than if you just went to grab a meal on your own? It’s not in your head, you most likely are eating more when you have company.
Perfect example: A few weeks ago, my sister and I desperately needed to satisfy our Hans & René cravings. I usually have one scoop of whatever flavour I’m having that day (pistachio or hazelnut *drools*), but she usually has 2. She couldn’t understand why I was only having 1 and kept bugging me to get another one, which, of course, was hella tempting, especially as she was paying. But the truth is, I only really wanted the one — so that’s what I got. The point is: If I was on my own, the thought of 2 scoops would never even have crossed my mind.
So let me throw some science at you, because there’s a psychological and social reason behind why you find it hard to say no to an extra glass of wine or one more slice of cheesecake on a night out.
Photo courtesy: Unsplash
It’s down to a few reasons:
In almost every setting, we take social cues from those around us. If your friends are eating too little (on a diet, eating healthy, etc.), you’re more likely to follow suit. If your family is eating a lot, ditto. Several decades of research show that we follow what and how others eat.
We’re enjoying each other’s company, so we’re more likely to linger around the table longer, and eat more in that extra time.
In anticipation of group meals, we order more food individually. The joys of eating together make it easier for us to want to indulge (i.e. good mood = more food).
Photo courtesy: Pexels
Eating in groups can even make us likely to eat less. For instance, if you’re out on a first date, you might be tempted to eat in moderation or eat small portions, so you don’t look greedy (sound familiar?), compared to if you’re out with just your guy or girl friends.
As social creatures, it makes sense that we feed off our environment and the people in them, but why this information is helpful is that it can help us make more conscious decisions, especially when they’re health-related.
We definitely don’t have to skip out on dinners with pals or go home early because we’re likely to have one too many desserts; but we can be better aware of how we might act in a situation and take more control. Like maybe skip the starter or free bread? Or opt for water instead of a cocktail?
