Overall, the present study provides some insights into how people conceptualize "appropriate" or "normal" food intake. Given that participants own definitions of appropriateness (focusing on internal cues or nutritional needs) do not accord with what has been shown in past studies to influence perception of appropriateness (mainly external cues), future research is needed to develop a more refined understanding of how perceptions of appropriateness are actually formed and how they influence people's food intake. Understanding the precise mechanisms involved can in turn facilitate the development of interventions to reduce the negative impact of some external influences on food intake (e.g. larger portion size) and to enhance the benefits of other external cues in promoting healthy eating (e.g. healthy social models).