“Is this a meal or snack?” Situational cues that drive perceptions
Abstract
What determines whether a person perceives an eating occasion as a meal or snack? The answer may influence what and how much they eat on that occasion and over the remainder of the day. A survey of 122 participants indicated that they used food cues (such as the food quality, portion size, perceived healthfulness, and preparation time) as well as environmental cues (such as the presence of friends and family, whether one is seated, and the quality of napkins and plates) to determine if they were eating a meal rather than a snack. Implications for dieters and for health professionals are provided.
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Previous research suggests that situational cues such as the type, quality or amount of food and the presence of others may affect a participant's decision to classify an eating occasion as a meal or a snack.
“Previous research suggests that situational cues such as the type, quality or amount of food and the presence of others may affect a participant's decision to classify an EO as a meal or a snack( 95 ).”
From Understanding meal patterns: definitions, methodology and impact on nutrient intake and diet quality (2015) · cites this paper as [95]
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- Authors
- Wansink, B., Payne, C. R., & Shimizu, M.
- Affiliations
- Cornell University (US)
- New Mexico State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Wansink, Brian
- Venue
- Appetite
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-02
- Volume
- 54
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 214-216
- ISSN
- 0195-6663 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2099902237
- Cited by
- 94
- References
- 14
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 5.47
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Update notices
- erratum (2019-03-01)
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Appetite (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Keywords
- food cues, environmental cues, portion size, perceived healthfulness, food preparation time, social eating, dieters, dietary habits
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Appetite Regulation, Cues, Diet, Drive, Feeding Behavior, Female, Food, Humans, Male, Perception, Satiety Response, Social Behavior, Young Adult
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