Have you ever wondered why “Healthy Choice” frozen entrees are packaged in green boxes? Or why fast food chains like McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell and Arby’s use the color red in their logos and in their restaurant’s décor? Researchers say a correlation exists between color and appetite. If you understand what it is and learn how to apply it when decorating your home, your entire family could benefit.
In lab tests, when volunteers were shown the colors red, orange and yellow, their appetites were stimulated. Conversely, a decrease in appetite occurred when participants were shown the colors blue, indigo and violet. So how can the test results benefit the average homeowner? For starters, if you are contemplating a kitchen renovation, you may consider using a blue color scheme by painting the walls, or even one wall, blue. If changing your wall color is a bit too drastic, try incorporating blue plates, blue bowls, blue placemats or perhaps, blue napkins into your kitchen. Remember, research suggests that blue and purple serve as appetite suppressants. In tests, people could not bring themselves to eat foods colored blue, due in large part to the fact that many of us have deeply rooted instincts to avoid blue and purple foods since they tend to be poisonous in nature.
If blue is not for you, simply try to avoid using colors that stimulate your appetite. Eliminate red, yellow, and orange from your kitchen and dining areas. Again, studies have shown that those colors have an effect on your autonomic nervous system, which can increase your appetite. Now you know, it’s no coincidence that many fast-food logos and restaurant decors use the red end of the color spectrum.
So, what about the color green? Research revealed that green created a “relaxed” or “balanced” feeling among participants. It’s no surprise then that the manufacturers of “Healthy Choice” entrees use the color green to suggest freshness and to create a feeling of peace, which in turn (they reason) promotes a healthy stress-free lifestyle. Green is also a good color to incorporate into your kitchen color scheme. Whether it be through dishes, furnishings (things as simple as seat cushions or curtains), wall decorations (like paintings featuring green pastures), even green tea cups, coffee mugs or green glasses. These minor additions or changes could (in the long run) lead to major results regarding the way you feel.
For more, simple ways to help promote a healthy lifestyle in your home, look for my next article: “Tips for a Healthier Kitchen.”