The association between food cravings and consumption of specific foods in a laboratory taste test

This pilot study tested the relation between food cravings and food intake in the laboratory. Participants (n = 91; mean BMI = 35.1 kg/m2) completed the Food Craving Inventory to measure cravings for sweets, fats, carbohydrates, and fast food fats, and a taste test consisting of four foods (jelly beans, M&Mʹs®, regular potato chips, and baked low-fat potato chips). Thereafter, participants could eat the items ad libitum. Specific food cravings were significantly correlated with consumption of corresponding types of foods. The sweets scale correlated with M&M® and jelly bean intake, but not chip intake. The fats scale correlated only with intake of regular potato chips.