There is a stereotype that women can eat half a grain, like Thumbelina from the fairy tale, and men need a huge plate of meat and potatoes. We asked nutritionist Elina Borkhanova whether food needs differ depending on gender.
Male and female food from the point of view of stereotypes
Surprisingly, gender differences in food choices do exist. A study by scientists from the UK showed that teenage girls are more likely to diet and pay closer attention to what they put on their plates. Different tastes persist into adulthood: men prefer meat and fatty foods, and indulge in sweet soda more often. Women choose vegetables, fruits and sweets.
In 2015, an international team of scientists conducted an experiment. They offered young men and women two dishes to choose from: a hamburger and caprese, an Italian salad of tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella. Each dish was served in several variations: there were larger and smaller portions. On some plates, the food was laid out beautifully, on others, carelessly. The scientists noticed that for the girls, the appearance of the food was more important than for the men. They more often chose a small portion of salad, while the men took larger burgers.
Scientists associate different food preferences not with the needs of the male and female body, but with gender stereotypes. Women are more often concerned about their appearance and weight. Therefore, they monitor their diet and choose what they consider to be “healthier” food. Men like meat because it is perceived as “masculine” food.
Scientists from Switzerland and Italy have found that gender differences in food choices are reinforced during a shared meal. If a man and a woman dine at a restaurant, each tries to choose food that will emphasize their gender.
Male and female food from a scientific point of view
If you look at the dietary recommendations, the daily calorie intake for men and women is different. It depends on weight, height, metabolism, and level of physical activity. As a rule, men are taller than women. The average height of women in Russia is from 163 to 166 centimeters, and men – from 174 to 178 centimeters. Also, men usually have less fat tissue and more muscle. Therefore, they need more calories.
The calorie calculator shows that the daily norm for a woman who is 163 centimeters tall, weighs 57 kilograms, and has a low level of physical activity is 1750 kcal. For a man with the same parameters, the norm will be slightly higher – 1900 kcal. The difference is small – one banana or a couple of slices of marshmallow, but it is there.
How to Eat a Balanced Diet for Both Men and Women
Unless there are individual dietary recommendations related to health and lifestyle, both men and women can follow the Harvard Healthy Plate System, which consists of eating half of each meal with fruits and vegetables, a quarter with complex carbohydrates, and a quarter with protein.
To help you keep track of portion sizes without counting calories, you can use the palm rule. Each meal should include a palm-sized serving of protein, a fist-sized serving of vegetables, a handful of carbohydrates, and a thumb-sized serving of fat. Since everyone’s palm is different, the amount of food you eat varies according to your needs.