Essay

An article “To Tame the Belly, Mange the Brain” in The Boston Globe (November 19th, 2008) by Carolyn Y. Johnson discusses how eating is “as much about the brain as it is about the stomach”.  Given this, doesn’t it make you wonder about the importance of restaurant or your home’s dining room design? Since the act of eating is more than just about the flavor of the food — lighting, color scheme and air circulation all play a role in how your body ultimately intakes food.

If air circulation impacts food aroma or lighting impacts how appetizing the food looks, wouldn’t you conclude that architectural design plays a part in “marketing” the chef’s entrée to your body? If the food is perceived as being delicious, then your body will actually do a better job with digestion. As architectural design provides for a mouthwatering experience, the meal will not only taste better but will be digested better physiologically. 

Taste is only one part of how and why your body intakes food. Your brain, and therefore your other senses, also impact how well a food is digested. So, can good architectural restaurant design positively impact how patrons digest food, beyond its taste? If eating involves the brain (which it does) then the architectural surroundings are ultimately also important for healthy eating.

Image Credit: © Serghei Starus | Dreamstime