SE3: Lack of Enjoyment in Our Eating Culture

     The collision between the mindless eating habits generated from a lack of enjoyment our society has towards eating and the decision to choose between indulgence and restriction in these meals is the source of many of the problems we as a society are facing today. What I mean by this is that people have lost the pleasure of eating as a result of the concern of spending too much money on a meal or worrying about ordering something that will make them feel worse after finishing it for whatever reason that may be. Things like obesity, diabetes, and unsustainable food production can be linked to this subconscious cultural trait of ours. With the help of Dr. Brian Wansink of Cornell, my lunch at Panera Bread a few days ago became far more interesting. His research provides an answer to these predicaments we as Americans find ourselves in.

    While sitting in a Panera Bread last Friday afternoon, I witnessed the lack of enjoyment of eating first  hand. A family was preparing to have a nice lunch together at a fairly large corporate chain that is upscale in regards to its atmosphere and food quality. This family included a grandmother, grandfather, mom, dad, and three little girls who were all between the ages of 5 and 8 I would guess. I observed this family meal from the very beginning to the very end. As I sat down with my friend to eat our lunch, the father proceeded to put three tables together for his family to eat once they finished ordering. People come to Panera bread because it could potentially solve the struggle between choosing a meal of indulgence while being conscious of the inevitable restrictions of the day: returning to work while not paying an absurd amount of money for lunch with your family. This is why these type of restaurants are   attractive in our society and why they continue to grow. Anyway, as the family was ordering, the atmosphere of the restaurant was relaxed and quiet. Once the family sat down, however, the atmosphere grew loud and stressful as a result of the frantic, hungry kids awaiting the arrival of their meals from the pickup window. As the food arrived, the noise went down. It was quite evident that the family's communication almost completely suspended after the food was being consumed. Despite the large proportions, nearly everyone at the table finished their meals in around twenty minutes without saying no more than a few sentences each.

     Dr. Wansink states that, "Most of us don't overeat because we're hungry. We overeat because of family and friends, packages and plates, names and numbers, labels and lights, colors and candles, and other environmental factors." Panera serves too much food on their platters, but people continue to eat everything on the plate because of the culture of eating. On top of this, people are eating so fast and mindlessly because they are rushed; this makes people eat more than they should without realizing it. Dr. Wansink has uncovered two food myths with his research: people know how much they want to eat and people know when they are full. The most interesting part of Dr. Wansink's study of the two large food myths was the audience in which he tested. He explained to 62 MBA students who sat through a 90 minute class that if they were presented with a one-gallon bowl of cereal, they would eat more cereal during the class than if they were presented two half-gallon bowls. Despite this lesson, the students who served themselves from the one–gallon bowl served 53% more and ate 59% more and did not believe the size of the serving bowls influenced their behavior. The second myth was busted in a similar fashion. A study of 150 Chicagoans revealed that Americans are more likely to use external, environmental cues to determine when they are done eating, rather than cues of internal satiety. People eat more with their eyes than with their stomachs, and they do not even realize it. These both relate into the idea that people are too rushed when they eat. If people were more conscious of how they are eating at Panera Bread, than people would eat slower and enjoy their food. This would, in turn, lower obesity rates across America as well as provide a foundation for a healthier society. Along with that, the worry of restriction would dissipate because of the increased cultural acceptance of a pleasure-orienatied meal.

     The most interesting part of Dr. WanA students who sat through a 90 minute class that if they were presented with a one-gallon bowl of cereal, they would eat more cereal during the class than if they were presented two half-gallon bowls. Despite this lesson, the students who served themselves from the one–gallon bowl served 53% more and ate 59% more and did not believe the size of the serving bowls influenced their behavior. The second myth was busted in a similar fashion. A study of 150 Chicagoans revealed that Americans are more likely to use external, environmental cues to determine when they are done eating, rather than cues of internal satiety. People eat more with their eyes than with their stomachs, and they do not even realize it.

     This eating trait is seen the strongest in America. In other countries around the world, meals are taken very seriously and can last a very long time. This is almost the opposite in the US. Countries like Sweden, Switzerland, and Finland have some of the highest functioning, healthiest societies in the world and they take their time to eat wholesome, enjoyable meals without the worry of restrictions.