Trick to eat more and weigh less

We think of those who love fine food and trying new dishes as being indulgent and even gluttonous, yet a new study suggests the opposite: Foodies weigh less and could be in better health than the less adventurous among us. Those who had eaten the most eclectic variety of foods, like kimchi, beef tongue and seitan, rated themselves as more physically active, interested in nutrition and healthier than those with non-adventurous diets.

The subjects were selected from all across the United States, and the experts questioned them on their eating habits, weight satisfaction, and perceptions that they had on novel foods. These could also include more exotic foods such as Belgian endive, cardamom, blood orange and quinoa.

He said that the findings demonstrate how being an adventurous eater can provide an effective way for people to reduce or maintain their weight without experiencing the restrictive feeling of going on a strict diet.

But a new survey finds they tend to be healthier than individuals who stick to “normal” food.

The study, published in the journal Obesity, found that foodies were also more likely to cook to connect to their heritage and have more friends over for dinner. Adventurous eaters, known as “foodies”, are often associated with indulgence and excess. “You are also less likely to get bored with meals or feel deprived”.

One important side note is that higher weight satisfaction was not linked to being an adventurous eater.

Coauthor Brian Wansink, author of “Slim by Design: Mindless Eating Solutions for Everyday Life” advised dieters everywhere to move away from the “same boring salad” by adding some more adventurous food to the menu. “It could kick start a more novel, fun and healthy life of food adventure”, he said.