Fun facts about eating: Don’t we all eat?
Food can be many things. Some people see food as an irreplaceable means for survival, whereas another group of people say it is more than that – it is a “therapy” for our bad moods and a “healing” of our souls. Sometimes, food is more significant than that, it can be the symbol of unity and identity of a culture, nation or country.
The list of the existential of food can go on and on, however, we actually do not know food as much as we think we do. During the past decades, psychologists have conducted different experiments on food, with the expectations to understand more about the connection between the human mind and food. From the experiments, some interesting facts have emerged and these facts have provided fascinating insights about food, and about us.
#1 Taste fades with age.
Flavour is a team effort. Taste buds on the tongue pick up the basic tastes (sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami), smell adds much of what we experience as “flavour”, and the texture of food – crunchy, creamy, chewy – is sensed by touch in the mouth, often called mouthfeel. Together, they let us notice even small differences between foods.
However, our senses of taste and smell tend to become less sharp as we age, so food can seem blander than it used to. This is one reason some older people reach for more salt or seasoning. If a family member’s appetite or sense of taste changes noticeably, it is worth mentioning to their doctor, as some medicines and health conditions can also affect taste.
#2 Mindless eating = Overeating!
Do you like watching TV, talking with people, or multitasking while eating? Well, be careful, as you might be falling into the trap of overeating without even realizing it! This phenomenon is termed as mindless eating, where people eat while their mind is wandering off. Studies have suggested that a distracted mind tends to provide less enjoyment from the eating process, leading to routine overeating.
On the other hand, paying attention while eating generates more satisfaction and enjoyment. This is why many healthy-eating programmes encourage mindful eating: taking smaller bites, slowing down, and paying attention to the food and to your own feelings of hunger and fullness. Research on mindful eating is still growing, and it is not a substitute for professional care for eating disorders or weight-related health conditions. If a busy, racing mind makes it hard to slow down at mealtimes, these ideas on how to stop overthinking may help.
#3 Bad mood, bad food.
What will you eat when you are in a bad mood – French fries or boiled potatoes? Research suggests that sometimes people eat because of their mood rather than hunger itself. This habit has been termed emotional eating. Generally, people experiencing negative emotions are more likely to seek sugary and high-fat food instead of proper healthy meals (with vegetables).
Figure 1: Bad mood, bad food (Source: LA Fitness Blog)
While a bad mood makes us crave unhealthy food, a good mood doesn’t necessarily lead to healthier choices either. In fact, people in a good mood tend to have a little bit of everything rather than sticking to a specific food type.
#4 Healthy foods boost the mood.
While good mood does not directly make people eat good food, good food in return gives a boost to our mood. In one diary study, 281 young adults recorded their mood and what they ate for 21 days. On days when people ate more fruit and vegetables, they tended to report better mood3. A meaningful lift in positive mood was seen at around 7 to 8 servings of fruit or vegetables a day3. Researchers have suggested that nutrients in fruit and vegetables, such as folate, may play a part – but a study like this shows a link, not proof that the food caused the better mood.
A balanced diet is not a treatment for depression on its own, but it is one helpful part of looking after both body and mind.
#5 What others order affects our order too.
Are you the kind of person that likes to be the last one to order the food when going out for a meal with a group of people just to avoid ordering the same food with others?
If no, then have you ever changed your mind and placed another order when someone else is ordering the same food as you? This “what others order affects our order” idea is a recognisable trend today, and researchers believe that it stems from our desire to stand out and indicate our individuality through a unique food choice1.
At the same time, the same research also suggests that people tend to enjoy their second choices less than the original decision1. Thus, eat what you really want and be yourself!
#6 Eating more than just food – Let’s eat ideas!
Old dogs may not learn new tricks, but old food can be mixed-and-matched and re-presented with new labels. It may not seem like it, but you are in fact tasting the idea of the food that you have just ordered and set up certain expectations, when the dishes are not even prepared. And indeed, food labels and the expectations that we set up have an impact on how we find and experience their actual taste2.
Some food labels may be so ridiculous that it seems like a joke from the shop, but whatever name it is, there are people who try them out for the sake of being different and daring to try out new experiences2. And when we are being different to choose a food with a ridiculous label, we are making a conceptual consumption, to collect as many experiential foods as we want2.
For example, you and your friends entered a new café today, and there is one drink labelled as “Gypsophila”. It is your favourite flower, but drinking it does not sound like the best idea. You ordered it anyway, and your friends are more excited than you and everything seems so interesting. This is when we are not only eating the food itself, but we also eat ideas2. We are eating the experience of being different and interesting, which makes up our social image and self-image at the same time2.
#7 Little changes trump weird crash diets.
Have you ever been on diet before? How long did you hold up to and was it really effective? Well, diet is one of the ways to lose weight, of course, but extreme diets can possibly do nothing for your weight-losing-plan or even do more harm than help. It is because extreme diets usually ask for big changes to our eating habits and patterns, and surely big changes to patterns are uncomfortable and difficult to make2.
Therefore, instead of craving for an immediate effect, it is definitely way more beneficial to just make small changes in our eating habits and patterns, as they are usually more feasible and sustainable in the long run2. Some examples that you may practice including (but not limited to): pay attention to your food (say no to mindless eating during proper meals!), rely on smaller plates, do not eat directly from packets/packages, put down the utensils between bites and drink more water after every meal (even after a snack!)2. Simple, straightforward and easy as it is!
#8 Stress eating and food cravings
Ever noticed that you snack more when you are stressed, bored or stuck at home for long stretches? Part of this is the emotional eating described in #3. Part of it may also come from what we see.
Researchers Charles Spence and colleagues use the term visual hunger for the urge to eat that can be stirred up simply by looking at appealing food. In a 2016 review, they described research showing that viewing images of tasty food can affect brain activity, the body’s responses and where our attention goes – especially when we are already hungry4. They also asked whether today’s constant stream of food photos and videos online might be adding to our desire to eat4.
A few gentle ideas if cravings feel strong:
- Pause and ask yourself: am I physically hungry, or am I stressed, bored or tired?
- Keep regular meals, so you are not running on empty when cravings hit.
- Notice your triggers – scrolling food videos late at night counts.
- Find other ways to settle stress, such as a short walk, a chat with a friend or a few slow breaths.
- Be kind to yourself. An occasional treat is part of normal, flexible eating.
If eating often feels out of control, or you are worried about yourself or someone close to you and food, please talk to a professional. Our counsellors and psychologists can help you understand what is going on. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call Talian HEAL 15555, Befrienders KL 03-7627 2929 (24 hours), or 999 in an emergency.
References
- Ariely, D., & Levav, J. (2000). Sequential choice in group settings: Taking the road less travelled and less enjoyed. Journal of Consumer Research, 27(3), 279-290. doi: 10.1086/317585
- Dean, J. (2013). Food on the mind: 20 surprising insights from Food Psychology. PsyBlog. Retrieved from https://www.spring.org.uk/2013/02/food-on-the-mind-20-surprising-insights-from-food-psychology.php
- White, B. A., Horwath, C. C., & Conner, T. S. (2013). Many apples a day keep the blues away – daily experiences of negative and positive affect and food consumption in young adults. British Journal of Health Psychology, 18(4), 782-798. doi: 10.1111/bjhp.12021
- Spence, C., Okajima, K., Cheok, A. D., Petit, O., & Michel, C. (2016). Eating with our eyes: From visual hunger to digital satiation. Brain and Cognition, 110, 53-63. doi: 10.1016/j.bandc.2015.08.006
This article is for general education only and is not a substitute for professional assessment, diagnosis or treatment.
Related Reading
Ready to talk to someone, or still deciding? Take a free, private self-check or reach out on WhatsApp — no pressure, no obligation.
WhatsApp Us: 018-206 7313 Free Mental Health Self-Check
