If you don’t like something, you won’t eat much of it, right? Think again! A common way for portion distortion to get the better of you is with foods you don’t like much.

In a study involving popcorn and moviegoers, Wansink demonstrated that even those who don’t like popcorn will eat more of it if given a larger portion. Moviegoers in the study who didn’t like the popcorn still ate 61 percent more if randomly given a large container. 

Portion control tip: Don’t be fooled! Portion size influences the amount you eat no matter how much you like or dislike it. A good rule of thumb if you’re not partial to a particular high-calorie food is not to eat it at all. Save your calories for foods you actually enjoy!

Usually, serving smaller portions is the goal of portion control, but sometimes you can turn that logic around. If you consider that the bigger the portion, the more you eat, then eating those greens might not be such a challenge after all!

If you struggle to eat a healthy food that you know is good for you, such as broccoli, try putting more of that food on your plate. Fill your bowl to the brim with brown rice or oatmeal. Load your lunch-bag with pieces of fruit. Put an entire jug of water on your desk at work – not just a glass. Although you’re unlikely to consume the lot, you will eat and drink more than you would if you used smaller portions.

Portion control tip: Increasing the portion size of healthy, low-calorie foods you don’t particularly like can help you eat more of them. Serve yourself lots more than you want to eat, and you’ll probably eat close to a healthy amount. If you’re going to leave half your carrots behind – make it a big half!