What your food preferences reveal about your personality

Did you know that our palates and behavioural patterns are linked in intriguing ways? Scientists have begun to divide the human population into three distinct groups depending on how taste sensitivity and personality overlap.

In the constantly evolving and dynamic field of neuroscience, researchers have found a fascinating link between our taste preferences and our inherent personality types. The concept of ‘taster status’ has been attributed to Linda Bartoshuk, a professor at the University of Florida and a pioneer in the field of genetic differences related to taste. You can listen to her explain “Why we like the foods we like”.

“Our palates and behavioural patterns are linked in intriguing ways.”

Which taster category do you fit into?

• The super taster (or fussy one): This person has more taste buds than average, resulting in intense likes and dislikes when it comes to food. Because they experience an increased flavour intensity, they may find tastes like coffee and grapefruit too bitter and spicy foods like chilli too strong.
• The non-taster (or adventurous one): This taster has the fewest taste buds compared to the average, so they tend to gravitate towards spicy and salty foods to experience some culinary excitement.
• The medium taster (or balanced one): This palate tastes a moderate amount of any type of food on their plate, and falls – rather fortunately – squarely between the neon wows of the non-taster and the pastel nibbles of the super taster.

Where taste buds meet personality

Sweet, salty, sour, bitter, or umami (meaty)… How could your preference for one flavour over another have a connection with your personality? According to a preliminary Current Research in Food Science study, which has been a stepping stone for numerous other nutritional science endeavours, the following seven links between taste and personality have been revealed:

1. The self-confessed extrovert probably prefers experimenting more with food than a quiet introvert. Rather than the lack of flavour variations often found in convenience foods, they have likely been more drawn to a large variety of fruit and vegetable types throughout their life, ensuring their diet is well-rounded and nutritious. Dark chocolate and coffee could also rank highly on their consumables agenda.
2. On the other hand, the careful neurotic, generally thought of as sensitive with a tendency to be nervous by those close to them, tends towards an unadventurous diet. They likely consume similar foods of the salty, sour, and fatty variety most days since they offer little surprise or variety. This picky individual may also steer clear of dairy products to avoid abdominal discomfort.
3. Novelty-seekers and go-getters, who are generally curious and open to new experiences, relish their salty snacks.
4. Agreeable, friendly, or compassionate types with a high reliance on social rewards (such as being treated with kindness) tend to prefer sugary foods and juices.
5. Other experts link openness negatively with fruit intake but positively with meaty flavours and cake. Open people will thus shun apples but tend to reach for steak and chocolate cake.
6. The more conscientious individual has been found to opt for cheese, vegetables, and nut protein but steers clear of overly salty and sweet foods.
7. A preference for bitter foods, on the other hand, predicts more antisocial traits. Such individuals may not suffer unduly when making bitter selections at a restaurant, but their fellow diners may be startled by their food choices.

“"Novelty seekers and go-getters relish their salty snacks, while agreeable types tend to prefer sugary foods and juices."

Do your eating patterns need revision?

Regardless of your taster category or personality, it’s generally a good idea to tweak your eating habits by incorporating more lean proteins, healthy fruits, vegetables, and nuts while reducing fast and convenience foods. But some may wonder why they continue eating even after they are full or if the thrill-seeking they gravitate towards in their physical activities (bungee jumping or parachuting, anyone?) also finds expression in their food choices and perhaps even in negative eating habits.

Sandton-based registered dietician/nutritionist Tabitha Hume comments, “I often see overeaters seeking help when they come to the realisation that their personality is leading to unhealthy food choices. Often, they self-medicate with alcohol, nicotine, scrolling, coffee, or strong-flavoured foods due to a dopamine deficiency, which stress can obviously exacerbate.”

“I often see overeaters seeking help when they come to the realisation that their personality is leading to unhealthy food choices.”

Tabitha suggests you ask yourself:

• Do I eat savoury (like pizza), then sweet (like chocolate), and so on to consistently achieve the next flavour hit?
• Do I consume little in the way of paler-flavoured healthy foods (such as veg, salad, fruit, and brown rice) because they seem a waste of chewing time, leading to a possible nutritional imbalance?

“While this may seem like a tough cycle to break,” advises Hume, “the answer is a combination of education, understanding, empathy, and a dietician who ensures that everything in the dopamine-deficient client’s therapeutic diet is absolutely delicious."

“Instead of following an influencer with a six-pack, who consumes grilled chicken breasts, steamed brown rice, and boiled broccoli, which will cause your inner scone/crisp/chocolate-munching monster to burst out, rather assemble a professional team of trusted experts (psychologist, dietician and, very often, psychiatrist), to help you reach a healthy, balanced, and vibrant nutritional outcome.”

Written for Medihelp by Vanessa Rogers