Whether you’re trying to lose weight or struggling with a loss of appetite, there may be aspects of your home that are affecting your eating habits. One thing that the restaurant industry is well aware of is that the atmosphere where people go to eat is just as important as the food itself. If you’re having to force yourself to sit down and eat a meal, part of the problem may be the atmosphere in your kitchen or dining area. Making simple changes or adjustments in your home environment and decor can make an impact on your eating habits.
Color
Restaurants carefully select their color scheme so that it stimulates the appetite. If you’ve chosen colors such as red or yellow for your kitchen décor, you have created an atmosphere that may make you hungrier. Changing the color scheme could help you remain more committed to a weight loss plan. Black, gray, brown and blue are considered appetite suppressing colors. These colors can help reduce your desire to overeat or to do too much snacking. However, if you’re having trouble motivating yourself to eat, try incorporating those reds and yellows into your kitchen color scheme to get your appetite moving again.
Aroma
Lots of people love using aromatics in the home such as candles or diffusers. If you’re on a weight loss diet, it’s best to carefully choose the scents you use. If you’re trying to avoid sugary snacks or desserts, burning a cookie dough or apple pie scented candle may only increase your desire for something sweet. Peppermint and cinnamon can wake you up and get your metabolism going, whereas lavender or vanilla can make you sleepy and more relaxed. Consider your eating habits in relation to your mood and make sure that your kitchen scents are made to match your goals.
Temperature
Everyone wants the temperature inside their home to be at a comfortable level. To do so, your heating and cooling system should be serviced regularly by professionals such as those at Master Service heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration. The temperature inside your home can influence your eating habits and metabolism. You can adjust the indoor temperature so that your metabolism is more in sync with the seasonal temperatures. Basically, that means not keeping it really cold in the summer or exceptionally warm in the winter but settling on a moderate temperature that’s beneficial to your overall health. Extremes in either direction will make your body burn energy trying to regulate your body temperature and make you hungrier. If this is your goal, however, just make sure to not leave it too hot or too cold for long periods, as this can put a strain on your mind and body, and make it difficult to get necessary amounts of sleep at night.
Kitchen Décor
You may be sabotaging your diet by the decorative items you have on display in your kitchen. A cookie jar can be an unnecessary temptation. Placing a bowl of enticing colorful fruit on the counter would encourage you to choose a healthier snack. Everything from the wall art to the decorative pattern on your dishes or towels can affect your appetite. Create a kitchen that encourages healthy eating by choosing décor items that feature fruit and vegetables or a non-food related design. Fresh herbs are attractive on a countertop. Having them easily accessible encourages you to use them when preparing healthy dishes. If you’re having trouble stimulating your appetite, having easy snack fruits like grapes and berries visible can encourage you to take a few, which will in turn help your digestive system wake up and be ready for mealtime.
You can make changes to your home environment and décor that can have major effects on your appetite. It doesn’t have to be expensive or extensive, so long as it accomplishes what you need in a kitchen atmosphere. Dieting and fighting appetite loss are both very difficult, as they both involve fighting against your body’s current desires in order to make it healthier. It’s important that you take whatever steps you can to get your body and mind on the same page so that you can achieve your healthy eating goals.
