Why We Eat Too Much (and Why Kids Say They Hate Foods They Love)

It's normal for us to stuff our faces over the holidays—normal, if not ideal. The Guardian points out the science behind why we eat so much even when we're full, and answers the puzzling question of why kids suddenly say they don't like a food they definitely do.

It's all because of a phenomenon called sensory specific satiety (SSS):


It's our craving for variety, then, that makes eating chocolate cake and then ice cream so easy to do after already eating a lot.

Kids have greater SSS. The article suggests parents should not try to force them to finish something they don't want, because children need to learn to trust their internal hunger signs.

In trying to think of the bright side of this or what we can do about it, I could only think of a couple of things. Perhaps if we're going to have multiple dishes at a meal (e.g., holiday feasts), knowing this phenomenon will help us eat smaller servings of each. Also, don't go to buffets or places where they keep bringing out new foods.

The science of stuffing your face at Christmas | The Guardian

Photo by Tom Powers.