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A steak for him, veggies for her?

April 20, 2008 12:16 am

IT'S BEEN SAID that real men don't eat quiche, but apparently they like undercooked eggs. And meat--lots of meat.

A recent survey highlighted the different eating habits of American men and women, and it has fascinating implications for both relationships and health.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveyed 15,000 men and women about their eating habits. The results show that American men eat more varieties of meat, while women eat more fruits and vegetables.

The researchers--who were looking at risks of food poisoning--found that men were more likely to eat undercooked meat and runny eggs, while women were more likely to eat alfalfa sprouts. The study also showed that men and women differ when it comes to comfort foods and spicy foods.

As a dietitian, it's the balance of meats versus vegetables overall that intrigues me. Are men and women biologically programmed to choose different foods, or does society program us to eat differently?

BEHIND THE CRAVINGS

From a scientific standpoint, men and women need roughly the same percentages of protein, fat and carbohydrates.

Men tend to need a few more calories then women overall, because men are taller on average. But despite having a larger percentage of muscle mass, men have the same protein needs as women--about a gram of protein for every kilogram of body weight. Pregnant women actually have higher protein needs than men.

And yet men--at least men in Western cultures--seem to crave meat, a big source of protein, more than women do.

The recent survey showed men are more likely than women to eat a variety of meats, such as ham, veal, duck and game hens, according to lead researcher Dr. Beletshachew Shiferaw, a physician and clinical epidemiologist for Oregon's Public Health Division.

Women ate more fruits, vegetables and nuts, such as raspberries, strawberries, carrots, tomatoes, almonds and walnuts, Dr. Shiferaw wrote.

Shiferaw's study didn't attempt to learn why the genders preferred different foods. I'll get to a few theories in a moment. But first, some more details about food preferences.

One study of British schoolchildren found that boys ages 6 to 14 already preferred meats, sausages and eggs, while girls preferred fruits and vegetables. Both boys and girls liked sugary, fatty foods best.

A different study comparing adult Americans and Spaniards showed that slightly more men craved savory foods, while more women craved sweets. In fact, 90 percent of women in both cultures craved chocolate.

However, more Spanish men admitted to chocolate cravings: 78 percent of Spanish men versus 59 percent of American men. This may be cultural. (American culture is full of high-protein, stereotypical manly, meaty metaphors: hunk, stallion, beefcake.)

Men in general like food spicier, too, according to a survey of men and women in the U.S. armed forces. This may account for the popularity of hot Buffalo chicken wings--meaty and spicy at the same time.

MOM'S COOKING

Childhood memories probably play a role when it comes to food preferences. Research at the University of Illinois and Cornell University showed that men prefer hot meals as comfort foods: steaks, pizza, soups, casseroles. Women prefer snack foods such as chocolate bars.

The researchers theorized that the difference was due not just to taste, but also to associations with childhood. Hot meals may remind some men of being cooked for by their mothers.

For women, though, who traditionally do more of the cooking, it is more comforting to have a convenient snack, like chocolate, than to labor over steaks.

Another reason American men eat more meat than women may be because women are more likely to be dieting. Although equal proportions of men and women are overweight in America, more women are trying to lose weight.

About 46 percent of women and 33 percent of men were trying to lose weight in the year 2000, according to a federal survey.

Of course, not all men like spicy chicken wings, and not all women are chocoholics. Our tastes are influenced not just by gender but also by ethnicity, childhood exposure, religion and the like.

CHOOSE WELL

If you are a meat-loving man, consider choosing leaner cuts of meat. Lean meats have less artery-clogging fat. That's important, because men have a higher risk of heart disease at younger ages than women do.

Also, meat-lovers should consider buying a food thermometer. To prevent diarrhea and other food poisoning, use the thermometer to ensure burgers and other meats are thoroughly cooked. Looking well done on the outside does not guarantee that meat is cooked inside.

If you like your meat rare, it's safer to buy solid cuts of beef such as steaks rather than ground meat. That's because steaks can be cooked to a lower temperature, 145 degrees inside, while burgers need to be cooked to 165 to be safe.

Fruit and vegetable lovers should be praised--vegetables are consistently linked to lower rates of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Just make sure you wash them properly before eating.

And for those who love chocolate, enjoy small amounts of cocoa powder or dark chocolate. Both supply magnesium and antioxidants, not to mention luscious taste.

Jennifer Motl welcomes reader questions via her Web site, brighteating.com, or mailed to Nutrition, The Free Lance-Star, 616 Amelia St., Fredericksburg, Va. 22401.