Portions
Whether we realize it or not, portions communicate what the “appropriate amount” looks like. A portion on a plate also makes a certain quantity of food easily accessible, which can boost consumption.
Unit Bias
Unit bias heuristic says that people view the given portion as a unit, rather than a certain amount of weight/volume of product. Said differently, people tend to view one unit of food as an appropriate amount.
We can leverage this concept when thinking about how much we want to be consuming, using the unit to deliver that intentional amount.
Serving Utensil Size & Style
With granulated food (i.e., popcorn, liquids or sugar) the serving object is be seen as the unit, for example a handful, one spoon or one glass. Thus, we can be thoughtful around how much of food/beverage dispensed with a given serving utensil.
The style of the utensil can also impact how much is served. Ensuring the right utensil is being used for the particular dish can reduce the chance of under-serving or over-serving.
Pairing Strategies
Portion strategies can be very effective when paired with Presentation Strategies, especially Optical Illusions. E.g. Smaller portions presented on a smaller plate can create the same visual response as a larger portion with a larger plate.
