Dark dining has been a popular culinary trend for a few years now.
People are blindfolded and put in a dark space where they cannot see what they’re eating. Some say it enhances flavors and the overall dining experience, but is this actually true?
Well, according to a recent study, eating and seeing do have a lot to do with each other.
The German study had people who were blindfolded eat the same thing as volunteers who weren’t covered. They were then asked to give their opinions on the food they ate. The results will surprise you because apparently your eyes have much more to do with your stomach and taste buds than you thought.
A recent German study showed that people who ate blindfolded consumed less than those who could see what they were eating. The folks who couldn’t see the food still said they felt just as full, though.
Research also found that all five senses are involved in determining how palatable food is. If you take any of those senses away, the food will be less appealing.
Visual cues send us messages about whether or not we will enjoy a food. If you see something with a blemish, you’ll be less likely to enjoy it, but with the blindfold test, you can’t rely on that indicator.
The biggest part sight plays in our dieting is deciding what to eat, how much to eat, and when to eat it.
Evidence suggests that while sight is important to how much we enjoy our food, if we lost our sense of smell, it would be far worse. This would cause almost all food to be bland.
As with most studies, there is conflicting research. The only way to really know if blindfolding yourself will make you eat less is if try it at home!