Red Plates = Weight Loss?

This has been bugging me: plate colors and weight loss.

I know it's not serious in the realm of the world, but every news site I visit seems to have a recent article about how your dishware color affects your weight.

This study has attracted attention especially from dieters.

Of course, there is no quick fix.  It takes time and overhauling your food intake to lose weight.

I tossed my old chipped plates and I primarily eat on white plates and bowls.  Does this matter?  I don't think it does.

But that's not the entire story.

I found the original study and it's worth reading.  Look at the photos of popcorn in the red bowl.  It doesn't look very appetizing compared to the white bowl, does it?

If you own a restaurant, this color plating idea would play significantly into whether your patrons enjoyed the food more.  It's all about perception and ambience in determining how much customers enjoy the food and how much of the portion they consume.  Most restaurants serve food on white plates.  Colorful foods pop on white plates and it helps the customer to enjoy the food more.  That's a fact.  The study explores both white and black plating in restaurants.

They also studied the weight of tasting spoons and how they affect the taste of food.  I never thought about that either.  If the spoon I'm using is heavier, the food seems more delicious and higher end?  If the cutlery is light in weight, the food isn't as satisfying and I'm not getting my money's worth?

Now, the whole concept of dishware and cultery is far more fascinating when it's presented in an educational context.  If you're interested, read the studies on the Future of Food.