CNN. “We are powerless to ignore the clarion call of the candy jar, the beckoning of the buffet, the summons of the snack cupboard” says Brian Wansick, author of Mindless Eating and head of Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab.

This fascinating study shows that visibility and convenience influence what we eat.

  • Visibility: Every time we see a food, we have to make a decision about eating it. If the cake is on the counter in our eye sight, we have to think about it.
  • Convenience: If the cake is sitting there easy to snack on and the vegies and fruit are in the fridge needing to be washed and cut, we will go for the cake.

The study also shows that you will eat more if you’re eating:

  • “family style” with the bowls on the table
  • directly from the bag or carton
  • on a bigger plate or from a bigger container
  • in front of the TV, in the car, with friends

This study certainly supports the research and teachings of Douglas J. Lisle, Ph.D. and Alan Goldhamer, D.C. in their book The Pleasure Trap. My own experience is that with self-hypnosis, both the issue of visibility and convenience can be overcome, but the self-hypnosis must be frequent and on-going. 

If you are not going to use self-hypnosis, then put the cake in the freezer and pre-wash and cut the fruit and vegies – make them convenient.