It was a real treat to hear from the Food and Brand Lab experts this Wednesday at the Becker/Rose Café. Hearing about their studies and ongoing work left me thinking by all the environmental factors that play a role in our decision-making processes–particularly when it comes to food. Moreover, the café has inspired me to look more into both behavioral economics and behavioral psychology.

As someone who tries to maintain healthy eating habits, I found the various tips and findings quite helpful (e.g. not going grocery shopping when I’m hungry, keeping unhealthy food options on the counter, etc.) Though I’ve been aware of the strategies used by fast-food and grocery store chains, I never really stopped to consider how practices within my own kitchen can inform certain eating habits/behaviors. Usually after I go grocery shopping, I’ll place non-refrigerated food on my countertop and, subsequently, pick at it every time I walk by the counter. Such behavior always results in my food supply decreasing at exponential rates, which is not good for my weight or my bank account…

Going forward, I am determined to alter certain “food” behaviors and be more conscious about how my environment affects what I eat, how much I eat and when I eat. I plan to fill my countertop with fruits and granola bars instead of cookies and chips.