DescriptionExposure to a variety of high-fat/high-energy palatable foods can increase energy intake and mediate positive energy balance that can lead to body weight gain and obesity. Preference for high-fat/high-energy foods has been associated with varied sensitivity to the bitter taste of PROP (6-n-propylthiouracil). Experimental data on the impact of dietary variety on energy intake in PROP taster groups are mainly limited to food intake in single meals. To address this question over the near-term, this study investigated the influence of eating in a buffet setting on daily energy and macronutrient intake as a function of PROP taster status. This study also investigated regulation of energy intake and caloric compensation at a buffet meal after exposure to a high-energy/high-fat soup preload. Our results showed that, as expected, energy intake was higher for all taster groups in the buffet meals relative to fixed-item meals. In addition, non-tasters (NT) and medium-tasters (MT) consumed an average of 246 kcal more than super-tasters (ST) in the buffet condition. Across all days of the study, NT consumed more cakes and added fats while ST consumed more fruits and vegetables. These findings suggest that exposure to high variety meals promotes increased energy intake of NT compared to ST and might contribute to group differenced in energy balance over time. In another study, we demonstrated that after the soup preload, energy intake of NT was higher than ST but did not differ from that of MT. NT also consumed more fat from the test meal than MT and ST. Caloric compensation at the lunch meal in response to the energy content of the high-fat/high-energy soup preload varied among taster groups. NT undercompensated and over-ate at the buffet lunch while MT and ST overcompensated and ate less at lunch after the soup preload. These small discrepancies in short-term energy compensation may play a role in positive energy balance and increased adiposity in women with the PROP non-taster phenotype. The classification of women by PROP status may identify women at increased risk for excess weight gain and the future development of obesity.