What do you get when you mix soft music, dim lights and cool colors?  The perfect environment for eating!!  Believe it or not, our environment greatly affects how much we eat, what we eat and how fast we eat it.  That’s right—the sounds that enter our ears, the light that reflects in our eyes, and the colors that are painted on our walls have a dramatic affect on what foods we put in our mouths.  Is it time for your kitchen to undergo a makeover?  If so, consider designing it around the perfect eating environment:

1.      Soft Music

According to a recent study by Cornell University researchers, when soft music is playing in the background of a restaurant, patrons eat 175 calories less!  It has been noted that the slower the music is in an eating establishment, the more likely consumers are to linger over their plates.  With slow, soft music, it takes us longer to eat our food and allows us to enjoy it longer.  The next time you’re preparing dinner at home, be sure to plug in the iPod and play some soft music while you enjoy your meal.

2.      Dim Lights

Don’t just dim the lights when romance is in the air—dim them whenever you head to the pantry!  Softer, dimmer lighting actually makes us eat less as well.  Bright lighting triggers us to consume food more quickly (not to mention more of it).  Dimmer lights actually relax us, putting us in a more comfortable, calm environment. This tells our brains to slow down and enjoy the moment.

3.      Cool Colors

Paint your kitchen walls red, orange or white and you’re almost guaranteed to eat more.  Instead, paint the kitchen blue or green.  The color green actually promotes health (lettuce, broccoli and green bell peppers anyone?).  Blue, on the other hand, is the best color to paint your kitchen because it acts as an appetite suppressant.  Some scientists even suggest screwing a blue light bulb into your fridge to discourage late night munchies!  Consider surrounding yourself with blue or green when eating—display green, leafy plants, hang blue artwork, even use blue or green dishes instead of white.

See what we mean? Blue isn't a very appetizing color!

Substitute the trendy, all-white, bright modern restaurant that blares techno music and prepare your own dinner at home with the perfect eating atmosphere.  Although we can’t guarantee that you’ll eat less, it will certainly make you feel like you can slow down and enjoy the food that you’ve prepared yourself!!