According to a recentstudy, eating your favorite treats can have a pretty significant influence on portion control. The study is titled“If I indulge first, I will eat less overall: The unexpected interaction effect of indulgence and presentation order on consumption.”
The authors of the study determined that sequential food choices share an interesting correlation with calorie intake.
At a buffet for instance, if an individual begins by selecting a calorie-heavy dessert (not eating mind you, just merely selecting) that decision is enough to implore said individual to choose lower-calorie options or fewer food options, in general, to offset their initial choice.
A cafeteria was employed for the first experiment illustrated by the study. Over the course of four days participants were offered four different dessert options: fresh fruit placed before the main meal and side dish options, lemon cheesecake placed before the main meal and side dish options, fresh fruit placed after main meal and side dish options, and lemon cheesecake placed after main meal and side dish options.
Nearly 70% of the participants that chose the cheesecake went on to select healthier savory dishes. Conversely only a third of those that chose fruit before the savory dishes went on to choose something healthy later. On balance individuals that picked cheesecake first, consumed 250 fewer calories by the time the meal was over.
FINALLY a diet I know I can stick to. You mean to tell me I can eat ice cream for dinner with a side salad and I'll lose more weight than Karen in accounting who's on the Keto diet? Sign. Me. Up. In all seriousness, the full article is worth a read! It dives into how this is more of a mental diet than it is a "this is what you can and can't eat" type of thing. Honestly, that's half the battle when on a diet. You can choose to eat healthy OR you can choose to take a whole pizza to the face (I, more times than not choose the latter), but this "diet" makes you think of the battle from a new perspective which I like. Now excuse me while I go eat a slice of Portillo's chocolate cake BEFORE I decide what else I will eat for dinner. That's how this thing works, right? @Traceahamilton