Color me fat

Vibrant Life, Nov-Dec, 2004

If you see more variety and color in a candy dish or buffet line, you'll eat more. "People eat with their eyes," says Professor Brian Wansink at the University of Illinois. "The more colors we see, the more we eat."

To escape this visual bias, Wansink advises that you avoid multiple bowls of the same food at parties or receptions because they increase perception of variety and stimulate overeating. Also, when in the buffet line, don't put more than two different foods on your plate at the same time. To discourage others from overeating, arrange foods at your dinner party in organized patterns. Conversely, at home, arrange healthy foods in less-organized patterns to help stimulate consumption.

(Food & Brand Lab, University of Illinois)