The Blue Plate

CEBU, Philippines - One of the interesting points I learned from “Coach A Metabolic Fitness Camp” at The Persimmon Plus which culminated recently is about eating on a blue plate.

In a brief lecture, camp nutritionist Lady Winderose Oliverio shared that the color blue is clinically proven as an appetite suppressor.

She said that this is most likely because with the exception of blueberries, most natural foods aren’t blue and that our brains associate blue with poison. So we don’t have automatic appetite response to blue.

Oliverio also directed Metafit participants to “eat off of a blue plate” to help one stay away from gaining weight.

According to research, she mentioned, food that is placed on a plate that matches its color tend to blend into the plate, thereby leading people to eat more. So if we are determined to lose weight, we are to go for blue which has a least appealing blend with food.

Further, we are to use large utensils. Researchers theorize that using bigger utensils makes one feel like he/she is eating more food, so one eats less overall.

Oliverio also suggested the use of smaller plates. She explained that when served with a small plate filled with food, our mind is tricked into thinking that there is more food in front of us. 

She also corrected our meal plans by pointing out we should choose more food that are low in calories but high in fiber. Fruits and vegetables are the best examples and that these should be part of our every meal.

“One-half of your plate should contain more fruits and vegetables, the remaining portions would be for protein and carbohydrates,” she said. “Meat should only be about the size of your palm.”

Food low in calories but high in fiber include wheat bread, oatmeal, legumes, low fat yogurts, and milk. “Be sure to drink milk, it’s the best source of calcium. But see to it you consume low-fat milk to complement your weight loss activities,” she added. (FREEMAN)