Why Your Kitchen Might Hinder Your Weight Loss

Apparently, the way we organise our kitchen cupboards and the fridge, has a lot to do with what we eat. According to a study led by Brian Wansink, professor of nutritional science at Cornell University in New York, the food we see first when opening the fridge or cupboard door, is what we’re most likely to end up eating.

The study involved taking photos of 100 kitchen cupboards (the inside of course), and their owners were asked to keep a record of what they ate. Then, using a different set of 100 participants, the scientists rearranged the order of the cupboards’ contents. Again, the owners had to keep note of what they ate.

Comparing the two studies, the scientists found a ‘really strong tendency’ towards eating the food which first came into the line of sight. But food which was noticed fifth or even tenth, was less like to be consumed.

Professor Wansink said: “The finding means everything in our kitchens has an impact on ‘visibility’. Cupboards where you cannot see food all the time are better than open shelving especially for snack foods which don’t require preparation.’

So what this study suggests, is that if we store the healthy food at the front and hide the unhealthy food at the back, we’re less likely to give into temptation and ruin our diet. However, I suspect this idea is more likely to work on those who are in a hurry and want to grab something quickly. And of course, it’s not really going to have much of an effect if everything in the cupboard is unhealthy.

But, if you’re struggling to lose weight, it’s certainly something to think about. Living in a house full of people who aren’t dieting can make it extra hard for the dieter when it comes to avoiding unhealthy snacks and treats. Perhaps reorganizing the cupboards could be a good idea for everyone concerned.

Hiding unhealthy food or putting it so far out of reach that you need to call for a really tall person to help, can work well at avoiding a moment of weakness. But, the best method I find to avoid giving into temptation in the kitchen is by chewing on some sugar free chewing gum. It makes it virtually impossible to nibble on snacks at the same time so you're less likely to eat extra calories.



Source: Daily Mail