Researching food for thought.

During a quest for an interview for my healthGAMERS blog, I discovered the wonderful research that Cornell University is doing at their Food and Brand Lab.  They are a group of scientists that research nothing but those questions you’ve always wondered about the way we eat and why.  Why do we unknowingly overeat?  What do restaurants do to get us to eat more?  Are our fears about food safety valid?  Are the marketing statements on food packages misleading?  Needless to say, there is a plethora of interesting information on this site. What a great job!

Studies of interest on why we overeat.

Portion size is often overlooked by those wishing to maintain a healthy diet.  It’s not just what you eat but how much.  Unfortunately for the consumer, there are many external triggers that will influence how much we eat.  Here are just a few that the Cornell Food and Brand Lab have discovered:

• Our mood affects our eating habits - People who watch sad movies eat about 28% more popcorn than people who watch happy movies.
• How food is served affects our eating habits - People who eat from large bowls consume about 56% more food that people who eat from small bowls.
• Environmental distractions affect our eating habits - People who watch TV or read while eating tend to eat for longer periods of time.
• What’s available affects our eating habits - People who buy food in bulk increase their consumption rates especially when products are convenient to consume.
• What the label says affects our eating habits - People who eat foods labeled “low fat” eat 28% more than foods labeled “regular.”

Stay tuned to Monster’s Blog for more amazing research from the Cornell Food and Brand Lab!