I was reading the Prevention.com blogs and I came across this interesting blog by food psychologist Brian Wansick. He talks about some differences that have been noted between people who are fruit lovers vs. veggie lovers.

I found some of the info really rang true for me. I am a veggie lover (but I love fruit too but I tend to go for veggies first). The first three traits of a Veggie Person describe the way I think. But the last trait about wine consumption doesn't. And for the fruit lover traits only the last trait matches me.

Anyone else find this interesting?

Here's Dr. Wansick's blog.

Fruit Lovers vs. Vegetable Lovers
Posted by Brian Wansink at 3/30/2008 8:16 AM

Fruits and vegetables are often mentioned in the same healthy breathe. But fruit lovers and vegetables do not seem to be created different. They're not alike. It's like trying to compare an apple and a zucchini.

We surveyed 770 people and found some interesting differences:

Compared to the average person, vegetable lovers:

+Like to try new recipes and entertain at home
+Enjoy spicy foods
+Think you cook nutritiously
+Enjoy an occasional glass of wine

Compared to the average person, fruit lovers:

+Often eat dessert with dinner
+Spend little time cooking
+Avoid new recipes and entertaining
+Enjoy an occasional candy bar

If we step back, the survey results make sense: Fruits are convenient, but veggies require some degree of preparation such as peeling or trimming. Someone who is vegetable-prone may also be more accustomed to food preparation – and less threatened by new recipes or the prospect of dinner guests.

Fruits are generally sweeter than vegetables, and fruit lovers may prefer sweeter foods, desserts, and candy. Vegetables, however, run the range from bitter to savory. That is probably why vegetable lovers preferred the strong and savory tastes of exotic or spicy foods, and even the bitter tannins of red wines.

Here's an idea you can try. If you are someone who likes to cook, entertain, try new recipes, and eat spicy food, you can use vegetables to make your meals even better. If you like desserts and foods that do not take much time or talent to cook, you can use fruits to quickly and sweetly add something to your routine.

What other differences do you think there are?

Sources:
Wansink, Brian, Ganaël Bascoul, and Gary T. Chen (2006), “The Sweet Tooth Hypothesis: How Fruit Consumption Relates to Snack Consumption, 47:1 (July), Appetite, 107-110.

Wansink, Brian (2006), Mindless Eating – Why We Eat More Than We Think, New York: Bantam-Dell.