People who like pineapple on pizza usually display these 7 distinct traits, according to psychology

by Farley Ledgerwood | January 27, 2026, 3:04 pm

Picture this: you’re at a family gathering, and someone orders pizza. The moment a Hawaiian pizza arrives at the table, opinions fly. Half the room lights up, the other half recoils in horror. I’ve witnessed this scene more times than I can count, including at my own grandson’s birthday party last summer.

But here’s what I find fascinating. That simple preference for pineapple on pizza might actually reveal something deeper about who you are as a person. Turns out, psychologists have spent considerable time studying the connection between food preferences and personality traits. And while nobody has conducted a study specifically on pineapple pizza lovers (wouldn’t that be something?), we can draw some compelling conclusions from what the research tells us about adventurous eaters and those who embrace unconventional flavor combinations.

So if you’re someone who happily reaches for that slice of Hawaiian, here are seven traits you likely possess.

1) You score high in openness to experience

This one’s almost a given. Openness to experience is one of the Big Five personality traits that psychologists use to understand human behavior, and it’s strongly linked to food choices.

People high in openness tend to be curious, imaginative, and eager to try new things. They don’t just accept the status quo because “that’s how it’s always been done.” According to research published in Current Research in Food Science, those who score above average on openness eat more varied diets and are more willing to experiment with unfamiliar foods.

Pineapple on pizza is essentially a culinary rebellion. It challenges the traditional Italian pizza formula with something unexpected. If you embrace it, you’re probably the type who gets excited about trying fusion restaurants, doesn’t mind a bit of culinary chaos, and sees food as an adventure rather than just fuel.

2) You’re comfortable with contradiction

Sweet and savory together? Warm fruit on melted cheese? For many people, this combination feels wrong on a fundamental level. But pineapple pizza lovers seem to understand something important: life is full of contradictions, and that’s perfectly fine.

This trait goes beyond food. People comfortable with contradiction tend to be more cognitively flexible. They can hold two seemingly opposing ideas in their minds without feeling distressed. Research on cognitive flexibility shows this ability is linked to better problem solving, creativity, and adaptability in changing circumstances.

I’ve noticed this in my own life. My daughter Sarah loves pineapple pizza, and she’s also the one in the family who handles unexpected situations with remarkable calm. When her flight got cancelled during a snowstorm last winter, she simply shrugged and turned it into an impromptu road trip. Coincidence? Maybe. But it fits the pattern.

3) You tend toward sensation seeking

Psychologist Marvin Zuckerman developed the concept of sensation seeking back in the 1960s, and it describes people who actively pursue new, intense, and varied experiences. According to research on sensation seeking, this trait is partly biological and influences everything from career choices to hobbies.

Now, I’m not suggesting that ordering pineapple pizza puts you in the same category as skydivers or mountain climbers. But the underlying psychology shares some common ground. Sensation seekers often prefer foods with bold, complex, or unusual flavor profiles. They get bored easily with the same old thing.

A Japanese study found that people who scored high on the Sensation Seeking Scale were more likely to enjoy spicy foods and novel flavor combinations. Pineapple pizza, with its distinctive sweet-tangy-savory profile, fits right into that preference for the unexpected.

4) You likely have higher levels of agreeableness

Here’s an interesting connection. Research from PMC shows that the personality trait of agreeableness is linked to both empathy and food preferences. People high in agreeableness tend to be cooperative, compassionate, and considerate of others.

What does this have to do with pineapple pizza? Well, sweet taste preferences have been connected to prosocial personality traits. Studies have found that people who enjoy sweeter foods often demonstrate more agreeable and helpful behaviors. One researcher even suggested that there’s something to the expression “sweet person” after all.

The foods we choose often reflect deeper aspects of our character. The pineapple lover who brings that controversial pizza to a party might also be the person who checks in on neighbors, remembers birthdays, and generally tries to make life sweeter for those around them.

5) You don’t need external validation

Let’s be honest. Admitting you like pineapple on pizza can invite ridicule. I’ve seen people get genuinely worked up about this topic, as if someone else’s pizza preference is a personal offense. Yet pineapple pizza fans continue eating what they enjoy despite the criticism.

This suggests a certain independence of thought and comfort with one’s own preferences. You’re not swayed by popular opinion or peer pressure when it comes to your choices. That’s actually a healthy psychological trait linked to better self-esteem and emotional wellbeing.

Research from Psychology Today indicates that our food choices reflect our approach to life more broadly. If you can cheerfully order pineapple pizza in a room full of skeptics, you’re probably also comfortable making other decisions that don’t require everyone’s approval.

6) You maintain a positive outlook

Studies on mood and food choices have revealed something interesting. People in positive emotional states tend to prefer healthier foods and are more open to trying new things. The reverse is also true: when we’re stressed or anxious, we typically retreat to familiar comfort foods.

Research on positive psychology and diet found that feeling optimistic makes people more willing to experiment with their food choices. Participants who were in good moods reported being more aware of what they were eating and more inclined to make adventurous selections.

Pineapple pizza is inherently a bit playful. It’s a cheerful combination, if you think about it. Those who gravitate toward it might naturally lean toward seeing the bright side of things. My neighbor Bob, who I play chess with every Thursday, always orders Hawaiian when we get pizza after our games. He’s also the most consistently optimistic person I know, even when I’ve just beaten him three times in a row.

7) You embrace complexity rather than avoiding it

There’s a reason why food critics often praise dishes that balance multiple competing flavors. Complexity in food requires a more sophisticated palate and a willingness to appreciate nuance. Pineapple pizza delivers sweetness, acidity, saltiness (from the ham), and umami (from the cheese) all in one bite.

Research published in Frontiers in Psychology suggests that people who appreciate complex flavor combinations often demonstrate similar appreciation for complexity in other areas of life. They tend to be curious, intellectually engaged, and comfortable with ambiguity.

This doesn’t mean they make things complicated for no reason. Rather, they don’t shy away from situations that require holding multiple variables in mind. Whether it’s solving a work problem with no clear answer or navigating family dynamics during the holidays, they can handle layers.

The bottom line

Food preferences say more about us than we might realize. If you’re a pineapple pizza enthusiast, you’re probably someone who values new experiences, thinks flexibly, and doesn’t much care what others think of your choices.

Of course, personality is far more complex than any single food preference can capture. And plenty of wonderful people can’t stand pineapple anywhere near their pizza.

But the next time someone gives you grief for your Hawaiian pizza order, you can smile knowing that psychology might just be on your side. After all, isn’t life more interesting when we’re willing to try combinations that others dismiss?

What unexpected food preference do you have that others find strange? I’d love to hear about it.

Original:https://geediting.com/d-people-who-like-pineapple-on-pizza-usually-display-these-7-distinct-traits-according-to-psychology/