Dynamics of dining in the groups of people (1019.17)

Abstract

Objective: In an all‐you‐can‐eat (AYCE) buffet, how does diners’ eating and taste orientations change based on the gender of people they are dining with? Methods: The consumption amounts and taste evaluations of diners eating at an AYCE restaurant were taken along with other measures of behavior and self‐perceptions. The differences between males sitting in groups of females and males sitting in groups of males vs. females sitting in groups of males and females sitting in groups of females are analyzed using T‐Test.Results: Males who dine with females eat more pizza and salad than males who dine with males (p<0.05); on the other hand, females who dine with males eat more pizza but less salad than females who dine with females. Males dining with females find the meal and pizza tastier and more enjoyable than males dining with males, whereas females dining with males find the meal and pizza less tasty and less enjoyable than females dining with females. Moreover, females dining with males think they ate more than they should have and felt rushed than females dining with females (p<0.05).Conclusions: Dining in a group of people with same sex vs. mixed sex influences diners’ eating behaviors. Although eating with females lead males to eat more, they also eat more of healthy options such as salad and enjoy the meal more. But eating with males lead females to eat more and choose more unhealthy options, and enjoy the dinner less. A diner wanting a more enjoyable and perhaps a healthier experience might want to realize that eating in groups and eating with males or females will affect and alter the eating behavior.