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Slim by Design: A Way to Decorate and Lose Weight

3 minutes
Is it true that decor and the environment influence our habits so much? According to professor Brian Wansink, home design can help you to lose weight. Read on and decide for yourself!
Slim by Design: A Way to Decorate and Lose Weight
Last update: 29 March, 2022

According to professor Brian Wansink, home design can help you to lose weight: colors, style and shapes can make it easier to acquire healthy habits, In his book Slim by Design: Mindless Eating Solutions for Everyday Life, he gives us the keys.

If you want to learn a little more about this interesting theory, don’t miss the following tips. Decide if you’ll give Slim by Design a try.

Slim by Design: how decor can help you live a healthier lifestyle

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Brian Wansink is a professor at Cornell University in New York who is an expert in eating behavior. At the same time, he directs the Food and Brand Lab food psychology research center. Here, they conducted a series of experiments that resulted in 100 eating tricks collected in their book.

Next, you’ll discover a summary of some of these interesting tips. Is it true that decor and the environment influence our habits so much? Read on and decide!

Slim by Design: love is born from sight

One of the conclusions drawn by professor Wansink and his team is that you can predict a person’s weight based on your kitchen counter. They found that there could be a difference of up to 22 pounds in weight between those who had fruit on their countertops and those who, on the contrary, left more processed products on display. These include cookies, chips, candy, and buns.

The key is that you usually eat what you see, so you have to try to make healthy and nutritious food accessible. Another interesting point is that those people who have nothing in sight, tend to eat outside the home, which would translate into more calories, larger amounts of food and worse habits.

To achieve the goal of losing weight, you should organize your pantry and refrigerator. You should order the healthiest foods in front of the eyes, while those that aren’t so healthy should go to the background. In the long run, it’s actually about not buying them to avoid temptations.

Wansink proposes to have fruits or vegetables pre-cut in the refrigerator and stored at eye level. As for containers, this research also has a lot to say. It suggests that the darker ones be used for the food that you want to consume less.

An orderly home helps you to lose weight

It’s not a question of being insistent, but for this researcher, it’s clear that people who live in more disorderly homes tend to eat up to 44 percent more snacks than those who have tidy homes, without clutter. Surely now, you’ll want to give the Marie Kondo philosophy another chance!

The kitchen shouldn’t be white or too comfortable

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Photo by Mark McCammon from Pexels

How we all love white kitchens! But, it’d seem as if you’ll have to think twice before succumbing fully to its charms. Based on the findings of this experiment, if you spend too much time in a white kitchen, you may be more prone to needlessly eating.

Ideally, the kitchen should be comfortable enough to spend a short time in there, but not for spending too long. Ah! Not to mention television! It’s also better to eat in your dining room and stay as far away from the food storage area as possible.

As for the white color, it seems that light environments tend to increase our desire to eat. But beware, the same thing would also happen in spaces that are too dark. Medium and warm tones would be the most appropriate, such as salmon or a vanilla tone. Finally, you always have to try to make the space cozy and comfortable so that you feel like cooking, instead of resorting to precooked meals.

If you want to know more about everything that the professor and his team say, buy his book. Many of the keys it provides are easy to apply and they provide a lot of clarity when it comes to acquiring healthier habits.