A study examined the effect of the number of foods offered at a meal on the amount of food consumed. The first study measured the dinner intake of young adults when they were served either a composite meal (a protein-rich food, a carbohydrate-rich food, and a vegetable), a low-carbohydrate meal (protein-rich food and vegetable), or a vegetarian meal (carbohydrate-rich food and vegetable). The second study gave subjects two different meals presented either as individual foods or as a composite meal (stir-fry or stew). Both studies found that the greater the number of foods offered at a meal, the greater the total intake. The results suggest that the variety of foods offered, in terms of the number of foods, can contribute to overeating and obesity.
