Sometimes we get a little portion-happy when serving ourselves food, which can lead to overeating. If this sounds like you, the reason why you eat too much might have to do with the color of your plate.
According to a new study, the color of your plate affects how much you eat. Dr. Brian Wansink and Dr. Koert van Ittersum found that the color contrast between your food and plate creates an optical illusion known as the Delboeuf illusion, which has to do with size perception.
Wansink and van Ittersum conducted a study with 60 people to test the color contrast effect. Half were given white plates at a buffet serving pasta with either tomato or Alfredo sauce, and the other were given red plates. After taking their food, the plates were weighed.
The results did, indeed, prove the color contrast effect theory.
People who had low color contrast between their food and plate (pasta with alfredo sauce on a white plate or pasta with tomato sauce on a red plate) served themselves 30% more pasta than those with high contrast between their food and plate.
So what does this mean for us?
If you want to stop overeating once and for all, buy plates in colors of the food you eat the most. If you're a veggie lover, stock up on green plates. Can't get enough of mac & cheese? Get yourself some yellow bowls. Let us know if you try this and how it works for you!
