You may be familiar with the phrase “you eat with your eyes first,” and it’s true that the way you view food impacts what you think about it before you’ve even tried it. When one food is perceived as “better looking” than a different version of that same exact food, we often find ourselves reaching for the one that our eyes and mind tell us looks better. But why is this? The answer is that psychology often drives our decision- making when it comes to how food looks. So next time you visit a restaurant or want to treat yourself to an extra special meal, you’ll understand exactly what takes the look of what you’re eating to the next level.
The Science
Science and psychology show that the presentation of food has a correlation to its attractiveness and flavor. But, what factors actually contribute? One study, published in the journal Food Quality and Preference, studied the impact of balance (or neat presentation) and color on the attractiveness of food. The study found that balanced meals were more attractive than unbalanced meals, and that color enhanced the balanced meals but not the unbalanced meals. In other words, color was only a factor in the attractiveness of the food when it first appeared neat and organized.
Another study, published in the journal Psychology and Behavior, explained that color can also be associated with your perception of ripeness and “doneness,” “glossiness can imply ripeness, oiliness, sliminess, or wetness” and “speckling or blemishes can indicate spoilage, insect damage, and/or ripeness.” These visual cues can influence both the attractiveness and the taste of the food, as shown in a third study published in the journal Appetite.This study showed that people rated a“contemporary” presentation of food significantly higher in attractiveness and taste than a “traditional”presentation, which appeared less artistic and balanced.
So, whether you’re visiting a new restaurant or trying a different recipe in the comfort of your own kitchen, finding ways to enhance the visuals of your food may enhance your experience as well!
Tricking Yourself into Eating Green
According to the University of Georgia, studies showed that food, specifically salads, were more attractive when the presentation was neater and more artistic. The more attractive healthy food looks, the more likely you are to eat it. But, you don’t have to go to a fancy restaurant just to find a delicious-looking salad.
Creating aesthetically pleasing foods can be done at home with all of the same ingredients you would have used before and only slightly more time involved. Starting with a bowl or plate with raised edges will help your toppings from escaping as you start to build your salad. Adding your base is simple, but if you decide to combine a grain like quinoa or brown rice, don’t just place one in the middle of the bowl and add the greens on top. Try placing them next to one another so that each is visible from above and divide the bowl in half (or whatever proportion you decide.) Then, instead of placing your toppings evenly across the base, group them individually so that once again, each one is visible from above. Stagger flatter toppings like sliced cucumbers or mushrooms in a line around the edge of the bowl or plate to create a sort of border. Try to separate colors as well so they aren’t touching to create more vibrancy around the dish (i.e. keep tomatoes away from red peppers and avocado from peas.)
Making your food more aesthetic is a great way to stay healthy and have fun too. Let’s just hope it tastes as good as it looks!
