4 Simple Tricks to Eat Less

Want to trick yourself into eating healthier? Your magic solution may be hiding in your cupboards.

Keeping fruits and vegetables within arm's reach makes you more likely to eat them, says a new study published in the journal Environment and Behavior. Researchers left 96 students alone in a room for 10 minutes with either a clear bowl or opaque bowl of apple slices and cut carrots.

The results: The closer the bowls were to the students, the more food they ate. And what’s more, the clear bowls that were within arms reach inspired the subjects to eat more apples. (Which is killer news for the subjects, considering apples and carrots are a crucial part of The Men’s Health Diet.)

This same theory has been tested numerous times with candy—with similar results. The explanation is simple. If food is close enough, you’ll eat it, says lead study author Gregory J. Privitera, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology at Saint Bonaventure University.

But why did the apples outperform the carrots? It all boils down to their visual appeal.

“Foods that have sugar in them, or that taste sweet, can stimulate the reward region in the brain,” says Privitera. “And since we know apples have that sweetness to them, seeing them in a bowl makes people more tempted to eat them.”

Stocking clear dishes with healthy foods isn’t the only way to promote mindful eating. Check out the other bizarre ways your dishware can discourage you from eating like crap. (And an FYI: the better your diet, the better your sex life—follow our Better Sex Diet for proof.)

Keep It Consistent

A low-contrast atmosphere—such as a white plate on a white tablecloth—can reduce the likelihood of overloading your plate with food, says a study published in the Journal of Consumer Research. The white-on-white palette serves as a stronger visual cue, making people more conscious of the amount of food they’re taking up.

Upgrade Your Glassware

Drinking out of short, wider glasses can trick you into consuming more liquids, says a study published in the Journal of Consumer Research. Choose tall, slender glasses instead.

Ditch the Tacky Dishware

Another way to make healthy foods seem more appealing? Serve them on a white plate. When Spanish researchers served study participants strawberry mousse on both a black and white plate, subjects found the white-plated dessert to be sweeter, more enjoyable, and more intense. Why? White complements the colors of food well, which makes it seem more attractive.

And for even more ways to control consumption and get lean for good, order your copy of The Lean Belly Prescription by Dr. Travis Stork.

More from MensHealth.com:

• Quick Trick: Make Healthy Food Look Tastier
• Make Food Taste Better—Instantly!
• Embrace Junk Food to Lose Fat

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