Secret: Why men eat more when they dine with women

Can you take a wild guess as to why men might eat more in front of women?

I'll give you a minute to think about it.

OK, what did you come up with?

Because the men are nervous? Guess again.

Because being on a date makes them hungrier? Nope.

Because they really don't like the women and are trying to turn them off? Not even close.

According to a new study from Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab published in the medical journal Evolutionary Psychological Science, they are actually trying to impress women -- not turn them off.

While women tend to eat less in the presence of men, the study found that men who ate with at least one woman consumed 92 percent more pizza and 86 percent more salad.

The results support the notion that people have an evolved tendency to show off in front of others, whether it's to attract the opposite sex or assert dominance.

I suppose most men aren't too worried about being called a "pig," "fat ass," or any other derogatory names normally associated with people who eat in excess. And there will always be health-minded women who might question the man's eating habits.

My wife always reminds me that I ate ravenously on one of our first dinner dates. Truthfully, I wasn't trying to show off -- I really was very hungry!

I just think there are so many other ways to show off than by scarfing down a big mean -- driving a fancy car around, showing your best moves on the dance floor. But eating in large quantities while in the presence of women? Never saw that one coming.

What's your take on this study?

Please check out my earlier entries here: How to Understand People. Feel free to share the posts on any site you'd like -- whether it's Google + or Facebook.

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