Food.
You know what you like.
Mmmm …
But do you know why, exactly, you’re drawn to certain dishes?
This sounds like a silly question, but there is a sort of science behind the appeal of a meal.
A harvest of interesting trivia, gathered by Amish furniture company Plain & Simple, explains how plating design, contrasting colors, and even the shapes of plates can make one’s dining experience more pleasurable.
For instance, are you more attracted to this dish …
Or this one?
The food components are pretty similar, but the first is somehow more appealing to me.
“The more presentable and visually-appealing [food] is, the better it tastes,” says the Plain & Simple post. “People favor bright-colored food that features lots of contrast. But too much color can be overwhelming—most people prefer three colors on their plate, distributed through three to four food components. Believe it or not, even the degree to which your plate is rotated affects how much you enjoy your food.”
How about this plate? Do the pale hues whet your appetite?
Photo by D Breen via Pixabay
According to Plain & Simple’s survey, “If you like your cheese salty, eat if off a knife—people rate cheese as tasting saltier when eaten off a knife rather than a toothpick, spoon, or fork.”
Of course, then there’s food art …
some of which is cuter (and more appetizing) …
Photo by Global Panorama via Flickr
than others …
Photo by Mukesh Patil via PDPics.com
Find out more fun “food appeal” facts at Better Dining Through Science.
This link about the science of food is fascinating. I was particularly interested in the facts about strong coffee drinkers, which I fit into. As for presentation and color, I do believe it has a lot to do with appeal. When my youngest was a toddler, getting her to not be a picky eater was a challenge. What I found most interesting was that bland looking and colorless had a better chance of a positive outcome than offering something that was colorful and different. It is interesting how the brain perceives good to try and scary to try when you are 2-4 years old.
I just love playing with my food ! and the japanese bento boxes bring it to an artform. I like alot of color- for instance my brightly dyed with neon colors hard boiled Easter eggs just seem to taste better altho I am pretty tired of them now a week in. But not to worry I am about to make the local PA Dutch pickled red beet eggs, they turn a gorgeous color of red and when sliced open the yellow centers just make it even lovelier. the” quick and dirty” ( southern for easy ) way is to buy a quality jarred pickled beet ( I like our local ” Aunt Nellies ” brand with the old fashioned label and a farm in the background. Just dump it in a large jar with peeled hard boiled eggs. Leave them in fridge a day or so and then feast, they keep just about forever too.
see Aunt Nellies whole line of just like homemade canned foods:
http://auntnellies.com/all-products
It’s interesting to think about food being appealing visually in order to make it taste better, but the more I think about it the more it makes sense. What makes it even more interesting is that everyone finds different things appealing. I am more interested in the second plate full of tacos and have no desire for the white plate full of white cheese and crackers. The link has some interesting facts. I found out my plates are enhancing savory flavors!
Very interesting. I prefer the 2nd red plate with the 3 tacos.