Eating well is an important part of our daily routine. Medical experts have long marked the habit of eating well as not just about having more day-to-day energy but also about preventing long-term illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and more. Food also affects your mood, from the mental effects of a nutritious dish to the emotional benefit of a hearty and satisfying meal. Aside from thinking about the menu, other factors contribute to making mealtime more fulfilling.
Consider the setting, how you eat, when you eat, and who you eat with. The tips below should help cover all the other things that contribute to a good mealtime.
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Pick the best layout for your lifestyle
Do you have a big family? Do you host dinners? Do you value having more space for yourself? These are all things you want to think about when setting up your dining area. Whether you have a whole room or simply an area dedicated to it, it’s a good habit to always eat your meals there so you can avoid mess and get into the mindset of eating better.
A study in Medical News Today revealed that much of our taste perception is based on our surroundings. Your setting can dictate how much flavor you get out of what you eat because your brain perceives it that way. If you find that you want to switch up your layout to cater to this, consider getting a remodeling contractor so you can achieve that vision without having to worry about home building codes and other risk factors like that.
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Try out recipes that make healthy food yummy
You want to get in the right nutrients and avoid unhealthy processed food. However, much of the stigma that makes people steer clear is that healthier food is harder to prepare and not tasty. Nowadays, though, you can always explore tons of recipes online that are easy to follow and prioritize flavor. Even if you have a specific dish you want to recreate that may be unhealthy, there are tons of alternatives out there now that don’t sacrifice taste.
Picking out good recipes also helps you branch out into new culinary avenues that make your meal plans more diverse and fulfilling. On top of that, you get to enjoy the feeling of eating food that you got to prepare at home.
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Make sure you set a schedule for eating
Eating habits and digestion are largely dependent on time. Research shows that an irregular eating schedule can be bad for your health. There isn’t an actual timetable that you need to strictly follow, as long as you have a gap between meals and you regularly eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Once you set your own time to eat, follow through on that every day. This way, you can feel satiated and avoid developing a lack of appetite, sudden weight gain, and other issues like irritability and lack of focus.
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Pick satisfying ingredients
There are few things as disappointing as a dish that is lacking. It makes you feel like you were missing something more, and often this ends up in an extra snack to try and make up for the dissatisfaction. A lot of times, it simply falls into the ingredients we put into our meals.
GoodtoKnow notes some ingredients to help you feel fuller and add that flavor you may be looking for. These include eggs, brown rice, chicken, yogurt, vinegar, avocado, and more.
Since ingredients are so diverse, you can really mix and match depending on the type of food you’re in the mood for.
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Adjust your ambiance accordingly
The ambiance also has a lot to do with how good your meal can be. Sure, you may have picked out the best dish and included all the right parts, but the way you enjoy your meal can be affected by things like lighting and music. A study from Northwestern University revealed that blue light exposure (like from LED screens) increases hunger even if you’ve eaten. Cornell University also found that bright light increases the likelihood for people to pick healthy food.
In terms of music, tempo can affect how quickly you eat. The type of music also counts, as noise promotes cravings for high-fat and energy, whereas quieter genres promote healthier options. Consider installing warm lights that are just the right amount of brightness and nixing background music like dance or electropop.
If you can apply these changes to your eating times, you should enjoy each meal more and enjoy the overall benefits.
