Are You Really In Control Of What You Eat?

Have you ever wondered why you are drawn to eating certain foods? Are you really in control of your food choices or are there other unconscious triggers for selecting the foods you want to eat?

While we all like to think that we make conscious decisions about our way of eating, in reality, we are all being influenced by a multitude of factors.

In the supermarket, we automatically select foods based on ones we are most familiar with, the ones our parents always used. It’s ingrained in our mind as the best and only one to use.

However, when selecting groceries we’ve never used before, packaging accounts for 90% of those decisions and it is based solely on the colors used on the package.

The packaging also influences the way we perceive the product to taste. Red, for instance, is synonymous with sweetness. It also increases our appetite.

In fact, there is a considerable amount of color psychology used in food packaging to elicit a response from the consumer.

Yellow food packaging has an anti-depressant effect. It does this by increasing the feel-good chemical serotonin in our brain. It also helps to stimulate an optimistic, creative and cheerful mindset.

Orange food packaging is associated with foods that are satisfying, tasty, hearty and foods that create a sense of comfort or pleasure.

Green food packaging denotes a natural, wholesome product great for our health and wellbeing.

To make conscious food choices you need to go one step further.

Learning how to read food labels and most importantly the nutrition panel on food packaging, in addition to the ingredients can empower you to make a comparison between your food choices and select the healthiest one.

Begin to be more aware of what nasties you should avoid in the ingredients list, or even hidden alter names for common ingredients you’re avoiding (ie. the various names of sugar – honey, corn syrup, fructose). Take note of the nutrition panel at the back and opt for food that contains less fat, salt (sodium), and added kilojoules.

When you first decide to take full control of what you put inside your body it can become overwhelming. The large amount of new information can make you feel quite restricted. A nutritionist can help guide you, translate everything into simpler terms and point you in the right direction to change your lifestyle. You will receive dietary and lifestyle recommendations but also learn lifelong knowledge of understanding the various types of foods and effect on your body in the long term.

To book a nutrition appointment with Merril Bowater call us on 9687 5333 or book online.