Context is everything. Especially when it comes to how quickly — and how much — we eat. Researchers have found that dimming the lights and turning down the music at a fast food restaurant made diners eat an average of 175 fewer calories than those who ate under normal (fluorescent) lighting with loud, fast-paced music. The more relaxing environment dim lights and mellow tunes create prompt us to take more time at the table. The result? We’re mindful towards satiation signals as well as how much we’ve consumed.
Do It Today: On a solo lunch break, head outside and listen to some mellow or classical music while chowing down. Don’t be surprised if you have leftovers to bring back to the office!
Red Light
Subtle strategies to be more mindful of portion size.
Phantom Hunger
Why we eat when we don’t need to.Photo: Bigstock
