Women are more likely to eat salad than chips if they are dining with an attractive man, scientists have revealed.
A study has suggested that women have less desire to eat unhealthy food when in the company of a handsome man and instead opt for low-calorie meals.
But men will splash out on extravagant food and drink when with an attractive woman in an attempt to boost their status, scientists said.
The study’s author Tobias Otterbring, from Aarhus University in Denmark, told The Times: "This research reveals how, why, and when appearance-induced mate attraction leads to sex-specific consumption preferences for various foods and beverages.
"The most valued characteristics men seek in a female mate are beauty and health, whereas status and wealth are the top priorities for women."
The study was published in the consumer research journal Food Quality and Preference.
It carried out five experiments around "mate attraction" and found that food preference was only affected when the person was with someone of the opposite sex.
If they dined with an attractive person of the same sex, their habits did not change.
