Memory for meal satisfaction and later snack intake

This study aimed to examine whether remembered meal satisfaction can be manipulated in a laboratory setting and whether this would influence later snack intake. Participants (N = 128, BMI M = 23.46kg/m2, SD = 4.70) consumed a fixed pasta meal and subsequently rehearsed the satisfying or dissatisfying aspects of the meal, or rehearsed a neutral experience (journey to campus; control).

Three hours later participants completed a bogus taste-test and measures of memory for satisfaction with the earlier lunch. In the dissatisfying rehearsal condition remembered satisfaction with satiety after the lunchtime meal was significantly lower than the neutral and satisfying rehearsal conditions and hunger post lunch was significantly greater than the satisfying rehearsal condition. Snack food consumption did not differ across conditions.