In March 2001 Dr Alan Hirsch, the head of Chicago's Smell and Taste Centre, released a new book called "What Flavour Is Your Personality?"

As part of his research for the book, Dr Hirsch (a neurologist) surveyed the snacking habits of 800 volunteers in an attempt to connect their snack food preferences with their personality traits and likely compatibility with others.

Overall, Dr. Hirsch concluded that people who like to snack on nuts tend to be easy-going, empathetic, understanding, calm and have a very even-keel nature - and they get on best with other nut fanciers too.

We don't know if this pop psychology, weird science, an indication that all the other snack foods surveyed contain way too much salt or if the good Doctor really does have a point - but you can decide for yourself.

Here's Dr. Hirsch's key snackfood personality charts:

Snack Food Personalities If your favourite snack food is... You are... Nuts Easygoing, empathetic, understanding, calm, and have an even-keel nature Potato Chips Ambitious, successful, a high achiever and impatient with less than the best Corn Chips A perfectionist, punctual, conservative, responsible and have high expectations Twisties or Cheezels Conscientious, principled, proper, fair, plan ahead, love order, have great integrity but can seem rigid Pretzels Lively, easily bored with routine, flirtatious, intuitive, may overcommit to projects Popcorn Take-charge, pitches in often, modest, self-confident but not a show-off Crackers Rational, logical, contemplative, shy, prefers time alone.

Snack Food Compatibilities If your favourite snack food is... Look for a partner whose favourite snack is... Nuts Nuts (potato chips: possible) Potato Chips Pretzels, potato chips, popcorn Corn Chips Corn chips or cheese-flavoured snacks Twisties or Cheezels Potato chips, corn chips, pretzels or popcorn Pretzels Potato chips, pretzels, cheese snacks, crackers Popcorn Everything but tortilla chips Crackers Pretzels, popcorn