Do you eat more or less around a male companion?

A recent Canadian study reported that women are more likely to eat in a restricted manner around men than they are around women, while men whatever they like regardless of their dining companions. Check it out… http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090805114616.htm.

So, what about you? Do you restrict your eating around a male companion? I’m curious to know what universities were visited. I’d like to see a similar study that covers a large number of populations with widely different economic, social, ethnic, and lifestyle characteristics, as well as varying environments. I think the results would be significantly different.

Most of the women I polled eat the same type and amount of food regardless of whether they’re with a male or female or mixed group. They understand how important it is to make healthy food selections and control their portions. However, because of my profession, I must admit that whenever I dine out (lunch or dinner) I tend to observe the patrons’ (in particular women; all age groups) selection and consumption of food. While I don’t know anything about these people, I’ve concluded that a lot of women will eat what and how much they want regardless of their dining companion(s). For instance, at a seafood restaurant I’ve observed women start their dining experience with a high caloric appetizer (Fried Calamari and signature sauce), the main entrée (seafood platter with all of the trimmings), dessert (bread pudding with a Bourbon sauce), and a drink or two or three.

Whenever I get a chance to sit and visit with my mom and we end up talking about the health care crisis, it’s funny to hear her talk about how women from her hometown (Midland, Texas) in the 1950s and 1960s made every effort to control their waistlines. They’d pride themselves on maintaining a certain body shape for their husbands and their male relationships. “We walked around with a tape measure in our hands,” she often says.

In this time period, I don’t think most people feel like they need to change their eating habits to attract or please their male or female companion.