Junk food tastes less appealing when you eat it in front of a mirror

It turns out the long, sought-after key to weight loss may be right in front of your face.

For eating in front of a mirror can promote a healthy diet, scientists suggest.

They discovered people who ate unhealthy food, such as chocolate cake, while looking at their own reflection, were less likely to find the food satisfying and tasty. 

Experts said the key lies in the fact people feel uncomfortable seeing themselves eat unhealthy treats.

They become acutely aware that they should be eating a healthier option instead. 

As a result, scientists suggest eating in front of a mirror can help reduce the consumption of unhealthy, junk food. 

Researchers found the taste of healthy food remains the same regardless of whether a mirror is present. 

Lead scientist, Dr Ata Jami of the University of Central Florida, said: ‘A glance in the mirror tells people more than just about their physical appearance.

‘It enables them to view themselves objectively and helps them to judge themselves and their behaviors in a same way that they judge others.’

Scientists administered a taste test on 185 students at the university.

The students were asked to choose between a chocolate cake and a fruit salad.

They then evaluated its taste in a room with a mirror or a room with no mirrors.

Those who selected chocolate cake reported it to be ‘less tasty’ in the room with a mirror, as compared to those who ate the cake in the mirror-less room.

Meanwhile, the presence of the mirror had no effect on the taste of the fruit salad.

The mirrors were found to push participants to compare and match their behaviors with social standards of correctness.

As such, when someone isn’t adhering to those standards, they don’t want to look in the mirror.

Otherwise, their feelings of discomfort about the failure are enhanced.

Therefore, the presence of the mirror induces a discomfort and lowers the perceived taste of unhealthy food.

But, this is only the case if the person selects the food they are eating.

By picking that particular food, they feel responsible for the food choice.

However, eating healthy food doesn’t induce any discomfort. As a result the mirror does not change the taste of healthy food, the researchers found.

The study suggests that mirrors be placed in dining rooms and other eating spaces.

That way, diners will be able to see themselves eat.

The hope is that by watching themselves eat, the diners will develop healthier eating practices.

The study was published in the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research. 

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