Eating your way to a healthy lifestyle normally requires a lot of research (like looking at nutritional labels, counting calories) and a lot of self-restraint from the junk food. But as it turns out, eating healthier could actually be effortless with the help of a little design trick.
A recent study from the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab, published in the Journal of the Association of Consumer Research, found that having a mirror around when you're eating could actually make you eat less unhealthy food.
"This research shows that the presence of a mirror in a consumption setting can reduce the perceived tastiness of unhealthy food, which consequently reduces its consumption," stated the study.
185 students participated in the study: they were given the choice to eat either a chocolate cake or a fruit salad, and were then tasked to assess its tastiness in a room that either had a mirror or not.
The results found that those who chose to ate the chocolate cake found it less tasty when a mirror was present, in comparison to those that ate it without a mirror around. On the other hand, the presence of a mirror did not affect the way people perceived the taste of the fruit salad.
According to Elle Décor, "Seeing yourself eating something unhealthy triggers a degree of mindfulness - basically your brain is telling you to make better food choices."
"A glance in the mirror tells people more than just about their physical appearance. It enables them to view themselves objectively and helps them to judge themselves and their behaviors in a same way that they judge others," said lead researcher Ata Jami of the University of Central Florida.
So if you're looking to eat your way into a healthier lifestyle, it's probably best to install a mirror in the dining room, or any other place you typically eat in.