This article dealt with how our preconceptions of what we're about to eat play into how we thinkt he food actually tastes.
Some tests administered tricked the volunteers into thinking they were eating beef when really eating veggie-burger, or vice versa. The same went for a study using pepsi and a store brand cola, but my favorite was the example about whether low or full fat foods tasted better.
So many people, including my own family, won't buy the lowfat milk, whipped cream, yogurt, ice cream, mayo, etc. because they truly believe it tastes worse. Depending on the BRAND, not the fat content, tastes vary, but really, can one honestly tell a major difference between 2% and 1% or skim milk? I don't think so. I think it all has to do with preconceptions.
My mom recently bought low-fat beanutbutter accidentally. I ate it without knowing and couldn't tell the difference, but she was astonished that I even opened the jar! When we dont know that what we're eating is a bit different from what we're used to, I don't think we can percieve a difference. We EXPECT full fat foods to taste better, but why wouldn't we choose the healthy road for a little less flavor (and thats if you can even detect the difference!!)
Currently organic and low fat foods seem to be all the rage...so I wonder what is selling better: full fat, normal foods or the continual supply of new, lowfat concoctions?
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I personally think it is a good portion of both. It makes sense because once preconceptions are formed, it is hard to go against them without thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteI think that when we don't pay attention to what we are eatting we don't alert the senses that give off that different taste. If we expect something to taste a certain way it most likely taste that way because our mind wants us to believe that it tastes that way. Unless it is a really distinct taste I don't think that a person could notice the change unless they acknowledged it beforehand.
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