Dec 19, 2014 08:09 AM EST
The Right Setting Makes Christmas Dinner Tastier, Study Shows How Changes In the Environment Affect Eating

The festivities and the holidays are just days away and Christmas Dinner has to taste a lot better without changing the foods you have already prepared as Oxford University suggests that music actually affects the mood and the taste buds.

According to Professor Charles Spence, changing the music, using better tableware, and adjusting the lighting will have a better impact on how people experience the food they eat.

He adds that playing music from Katherine Jenkins when a person is not a fan of sprouts will help the vegetable taste a little bit sweeter because of the sugary melodic tones from the song. He pointed out that classical music actually makes food taste like it is of better quality.

As for the dinnerware, the heavier it is, the better as people will believe they are eating the finest kind of food due to how fancy the plates and the spoons and forks are. Also, glasses that are heavier will have the similar effect on your guests.

The scene is also important such as making the area smell of pine or of cinnamon as it will create a
"Christmas" nostalgia. A real Christmas tree could do the trick instead of the plastic one and playing Christmas carols and having a candlelight will also be a great scene.

"Making the food look artistic rather than just dumping it on the plate will also increase the perceived value of the food. And steer clear of displaying food asymmetrically. It was fashionable for a while, but people generally prefer symmetry on their plates," Professor Charles Spence adds.

The colors of the plates are also sending signals to the brain such as red plates will make other guests feel they have to limit their food intake while white plate for desserts will make the food appear sweeter although it isn't that sweet. 

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