Interesting article about plate size/color, table cloth colo

TheSane

From the Wall Street Journal:

"Previous research has shown the size of a dinner plate influences the quantity of food people consume—the larger the dish, the bigger the portion, and vice versa. A series of experiments by two U.S. researchers found participants served themselves significantly more food if the color contrast between the dinnerware and the food was low—for example, cream-colored pasta on a white plate.

Overserving was reduced, however, when the contrast was more pronounced, for instance, by offering pasta with red tomato sauce on a white plate, the study found.

The opposite occurred when dinnerware was contrasted with an underlying tablecloth. When the color difference was high, as with a white plate on a black tablecloth, for instance, participants served themselves about 10% larger portions than when the contrast was low. Excess portion size was essentially eliminated when contrast was removed, such as a white plate on a white tablecloth."

Full article here:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204753404577066253349009674.html?mod=googlenews_wsj