What Kind of Sandwich Are You?

Richard Newstead/Getty ImagesWhat sandwich you pick up today for lunch may say a thing or two about your personality.

A study by the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago correlated the personalities of 2,747 people with their sandwich preference. The study was commissioned by Hellmann's and Best Foods Mayonnaise.

"We looked at sandwiches much like you look at the Rorschach tests ... the ink blots that look like a butterfly or a bat depending on how you interpret it," said the study's author, Dr. Alan Hirsch. "We basically did the same thing with sandwiches."

Participants were analyzed with a battery of psychiatric tests: Million Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2, the Beck Depression Inventory, Zung Anxiety and Zung Depression. They were then asked to give their sandwich preference for club (chosen by 17 percent of participants), ham and cheese (11 percent), turkey (16 percent), tuna (10 percent), egg salad (14 percent), chicken salad (7 percent), seafood salad (11 percent) or BLT (15 percent).

From that information, Hirsch and his team were able to pin personality to sandwich preference. Researchers gleaned the romantic compatibility of participants by analyzing the sandwich preferences of their spouses (provided they'd been married more than a year).

Unfortunately, the study only looked at mayonnaise-laden sammies and left out well-loved ones, such as grilled cheese and peanut butter and jelly because their popularity would skew results.

"These were sandwiches that everyone seemed to like, and it wasn't one that was overwhelmingly liked over another," Hirsch said. "So for instance, peanut butter and jelly, when you put that in the group, so many people choose peanut butter and jelly you don't get any significantly good results ... similarly, you can't put a sandwich in that no one likes. You won't get any results for it at all."

Also, because the test looked at Midwesterners, the results may not be valid for Americans from distinct culinary regions -- residents of southeastern Louisiana, the Amish and Native Americans from Alaska, Hirsch said.

"In general for the country as a whole it seems to make sense, but there are certain subgroups it simply may not work with," he said.

STUDY FINDINGS

Club Sandwich

Agreeable and unselfish, club sandwich lovers seek comfort in close, secure relationships. Strongly devoted to work as well as relationships, they can always be counted upon. Best two words to describe those who prefer club sandwich: commitment and loyalty. Those who prefer club sandwich are most compatible with those who chose club, BLT or turkey.

Ham and Cheese

Curious and intuitively oriented, those who prefer ham and cheese find their inquisitive nature directs them to a wide range of interests. Their serious nature can point them into the arena of existential concerns. They are most productive when allowed to work on their own, without micromanagement from supervisors. Down time allows their creativity to blossom. Those who prefer ham and cheese sandwich function best without strong romantic entanglements.

Turkey Sandwich

Those who prefer turkey sandwich are free-thinkers, naturally rebellious against authority. They are their own boss and function best at work and in relationships when given "space" or when left to their own device. If not careful, turkey sandwich lovers can become mired down in a swamp of existential philosophy. Most romantically compatible with others who also prefer turkey sandwiches.

Tuna Sandwich

Aggressive, achievement-oriented and natural leaders who are driven to succeed in both work and interpersonal relationships. Competitive, driven, intolerant of failure, they demand the best from themselves and those that surround them. However, they become irritated with the minor vicissitudes of life and demonstrate impatience with long lines, rush hour traffic or slow Internet connections. Those who prefer tuna sandwich are most romantically compatible with those who prefer egg salad and others who like tuna.

Egg Salad Sandwich

Entertaining, lively, energetic, they thrive as the center of attention. Egg salad sandwich lovers crave novelty, excitement and adventure. They tend to be seductive, provocative and charming, but are also overly trusting and vulnerable to the influence of others who surround them. Those who prefer egg salad sandwich are the universal romantic. They are compatible with all sandwich lovers.

Chicken Salad Sandwich

Easy-going, well-adjusted, empathic, and understanding. They are the perfect spouse or partner. Those who prefer chicken salad sandwich are most romantically compatible with those who prefer egg salad sandwich.

Seafood Salad Sandwich

Agreeable, unselfish, seafood salad sandwich lovers seek comfort in close, secure relationships. Strongly devoted to work as well as relationships, they can always be counted upon. Best two words to describe those who prefer seafood sandwich: commitment and loyalty. Romantic compatibility is with those who prefer BLT and seafood salad.

Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato

Conscientious, perfectionist, devoted to work, home or relationship. Task-oriented and maintains the moral high ground at all times. Honest, forthright.Best described by the word "integrity." BLT sandwich lovers are most compatible with those who prefer seafood salad sandwich.