Color.Mood.Food

I'm pretty sure you must be wondering...what on earth is Gabriella's blog about now. Well I

got to thinking the other day about colors and food.

Do we choose our foods based on how we feel? Does it tie into the food's color? If someone was to present you with two foods

you liked, but the colors were different.....you would choose the food you "felt" like having. Do you think the color of the food would be based on your decision? Or your mood? Its probably not the first thing you'd think of....but way deep in your mind...you'd be surprised how much of an affect it plays.

According to several studies.....

Color has an incredible effect on you mood, your perception, and your likes and dislikes. It’s programmed into you, and you really have little to say about it. Your reptilian mind is the part of you that is programmed to survive. It’s what makes you instinctively know that fire is bad, that red is danger, and that green is comforting. Humans developed over millions of years and color is a big part of our perception. It’s why orange is often used to make products that are high priced look more inviting because psychologically it makes them seem more affordable. And it’s why red is the most prominent color in fast food logos –red stimulates appetite. And it’s why you will have trouble eating food that is blue. What food is blue? Exactly! Okay, maybe blueberries but how about some blue mashed potatoes with blue meatloaf and blue gravy? See what I mean?

Corporations spend millions of dollars testing colors on consumers every day. Why? Because they know color has a huge affect on how you perceive their products.

Red is the color that we pay the most attention to. It is the warmest and most energic color in the spectrum.
We associate red with love, valentines, danger, desire, speed, strength, violence, anger, emergency exit signs, stop signs and blood.

With strawberries being my all time favorite....I find it VERY hard to say NO to them. I can eat strawberries ANYTIME!

Green is a cool color that symbolizes nature and the natural world. Green also represents tranquility, good luck, health, and jealousy.
Researchers have also found that green can improve reading ability. Some students may find that laying a transparent sheet of green paper over reading material increases reading speed and comprehension.
Green has long been a symbol of fertility and was once the preferred color choice for wedding gowns in the 15th-century. Even today, green M & M's (an American chocolate candy) are said to send a sexual message.
Green is often used in decorating for its calming effect, For example, guests waiting to appear on television programs often wait in a “green room” to relax.
Green is thought to relieve stress and help heal. Those who have a green work environment experience fewer stomachaches.
Consider how green is used in language: green thumb, green with envy, greenhorn.

When I'm eating a salad....I feel cool and somewhat close to nature. I feel good because I know I'm eating a healthy meal.

Are salads more appetizing when there is a variation of veggies in them (RED tomato, YELLOW peppers, ORANGE carrots, BLACK dashes of pepper...etc. Versus a plain lettuce and carrot salad???

So next time you sit down to have your next meal...or your driving around town looking for a place to eat or looking at the food on a menu, test yourself and see if "COLOR" played a role in choosing your food OR if your "MOOD" played a role. Give it a little thought. You might be surprised.