According to the results of a social experiment conducted on ABC network's The Doctors, the color of your plate can be just as important as the size of your plate when it comes to portion size. Subjects in the experiment were invited to lunch in which there were two pasta buffets (the pasta was covered with a red sauce). In one line, there were red plates, while the other line had white plates. Guests made their plates, which were then weighed before they were seated. The researcher found that the red plates weighed on average half a pound more than the white plates, indicating that people tended to pile more food onto the red plates.
The explanation behind this is that when the food contrasts more with the plate, people tend to put less food on it because the contrast creates the optical illusion that there is more food on the plate. This held true for any color plate. If the food matches the plate, people generally perceive that the plate has less food and therefore will add more to the plate. With the holiday weekend upon us, this experiment gives us something to ponder. Oftentimes, for festivities and celebrations, we like to use colorful, bright dishes to express the occasion. Perhaps using white or more subdued colored plates and bowls can prevent us from overindulging! What do you think of these results? Have you thought of using this kind of strategy to help with weight loss or portion control?
2 Comments
Sandra Jones
9/6/2012 04:18:58 am
Congrats to YOU and me I got a belt on today (09/06) I think I am so cute because of YOU and The TV Commercial Workout. So I am going to keep you posted on my success because of you. THANKS
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Alena
9/7/2012 03:20:15 am
you ARE cute! work it! love you too
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AuthorHello there, my name is Alena and I am a Registered Dietitian! This blog is a platform through which I can share my knowledge and perspectives on a variety of nutrition-related topics. Feel free to contribute by commenting. Archives
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