Do you ever feel like you’re in a dietary rut? Do you struggle with bland salads or boring chicken breast, even though you know you should eat them? It turns out that there’s a scientifically proven trick to making any dish taste better. Here’s how to break out of your dining routine and give your taste buds a jolt.
It turns out that the secret to tricking your brain into experiencing even the most mundane meals taste fresh is incredibly simple. All you need to do is mix things up. Not necessarily the ingredients or the spices, although that might help. But you should try literally changing the way you eat.
Think about it. If you always have dinner on the couch while watching TV, you’re stuck in a rut in more ways than one. Many of us eat the same things, off the same dishes, in the same place day after day. It’s no wonder that you’re feeling bored.
Researchers at Ohio State University asked study participants to eat popcorn in different ways. Some of the people were told to eat with their fingers, while others had the novel experience of eating popcorn with chopsticks.
The people who used chopsticks reported enjoying the popcorn a lot more. The researchers hypothesized that it’s because the chopsticks users were more likely to eat more slowly and be more focused on the flavors and textures of the snack. It might also be because it was an unusual and unexpected way to eat a familiar treat.
The researchers continued testing out their ideas and found that doing the unexpected, such as drinking water from a champagne flute instead of an ordinary glass, made the experience more enjoyable.
The concept of “hedonic adaptation” is that we get excited about new and novel experiences, but that enjoyment fades pretty quickly. That’s why you feel happy the first time you try a delicious new food or treat yourself to something you want. And why that happiness doesn’t last forever.
So how do you trick your brain into enjoying things even after the novelty has worn off?
Instead of seeking that feeling of enjoyment through indulging in unhealthy foods or buying things you don’t need, focus on changing the way you experience your routine. Shake things up! If you always go left, go right instead. If you usually eat on the couch, move to the kitchen or dining room instead. Break out the good china instead of paper plates.
