How Your Dinner Plate Can Affect Your Health
By Laura Cipullo, RD, CDE and Mom
Did you know that your dinner plates can actually affect the amount of food you and your children consume?
As a mom and dietitian, I understand the need for parents to feed their kids well while fostering a positive relationship with food.
This relationship is more complicated than the nutritional value of what you serve, however; in fact, it actually begins with your servingware.
If you haven’t thought about it before, then consider it now. Beyond ingredients alone, parents need to think about the ways in which the environment impacts children’s associations with food. Eating off of dishes that we find aesthetically pleasing or comforting can set us up for a sense of satisfaction before even taking a bite off our plate – and the same goes for our children.
When it comes to finding the perfect plates that suit your parenting philosophies and personal styles, consider yourselves covered. These five picks won’t just help to foster healthy attitudes in the kitchen; they’ll also eliminate unnecessary stress by prompting your ever-picky eaters to finish what’s in front of them.
1. The No Fuss Mom: Corelle White Dish
I’ve eaten off of these plates for years! Dishwasher safe and practically unbreakable, there is nothing better than these crisp, white dishes – except, that is, the price!
For a mere $50 dollars, you can purchase a set of eight of these family-friendly plates. Eating off of white dishes creates a colorful contrast with your meal which, based on studies by Dr. Brain Wainsink, lends to eating smaller portions and over time, an easy way to lose weight without consciously dieting.
2. The Eco-chic Mom: Bambooware Santa Barbara Dinnerware
For the environmentally sound mother with a love of anything green, these eco-chic plates from Bambooware are made of bamboo and are decidedly awesome.
Not only are they melamine-free, but these low-impact plates are both reusable and dishwasher safe, making them perfect for every occasion, from family meals to birthday parties and more.
3. The New Mom: Green Eats BPA-Free Kids Dishes
Babies and tots are known for touching, tantrums, and throwing, so we’re not exactly serving our little bundles of joy baby food or even finger food off of our finest china. Yet with all the talk and rising concerns about BPA, many parents are hesitant to use plastic servingware, bottles, and plates – even if many states, including New York and California, have put BPA-free laws in place.
These BPA-free plates from Green Eats give new moms everywhere one thing less to worry about and are ideal for serving wholesome, sustainable foods to our little ones.
4. The Mom Gone Crazy: Waechtersbach Warehouse Funfactory II Dinnerware
Having a selective, or “picky,” eater can give any mom grey hairs. While eating off of white plates helps to decrease portions consumed, go ahead and apply the opposite logic with these funky, brightly hued dishes. Purchase an entire set of these vibrant plates, one in every color of the rainbow, for variety, fun, and for the picky eater, a low contrast combination.
In Dr. Brian Wainsink’s study, people ate more when they were served pasta with red sauce on a red dish and greens on green plates. These low contrast combinations may unconsciously convince your picky eater to nosh on just a few bites more of their meal.
5. The Party Planning Mom: Harvest Table Setting
What can be better than sitting down to a tasty fall meal at a beautifully decorated table? This year, embrace the changing seasons with an aesthetically pleasing dinner table, set for the harvest theme. Choose pumpkin bowls, candles and a fall hued centerpiece to go a step further in creating an environment that fosters an appreciation of feeding and eating.
I personally love the idea of entertaining family and friends, but fall short when it comes to patience and getting the look I want. Use Pottery Barn’s party planning website to learn how to create this warm and inviting Harvest Table Setting.
With your table set and your confidence high, all that’s left now is to decide on what to feed the kids. If you’re looking for ideas and inspiration, be sure to refer to my recipe blogs, where I “dish” on delicious, kid-centric meals and answer real questions posed by real moms everywhere.
