Colour psychology has been studied for decades. Whether you realise it or not, your mood and appetite are directly affected by the colours of the food that you see in the stores, in your kitchen and on your plate.

It's a not-so-closely-guarded secret that supermarket layouts always involve you walking through the vibrant fruit and vege section the moment you enter. 

The bright colours are attractive to our eyes and our instincts, encouraging us to start thinking about food. We begin to feel hungry, and then end up buying more than we came in for!

It's a sneaky marketing trick based on colour psychology, and it works a treat.

Why are we so affected by food colours?

Over many millenia of hunting, gathering and eating, our ancestors gradually pinpointed foods that had nutritional and medicinal properties, and those that had a good chance of making us sick.

There's a lot of deep-down instinct when we see browning fruit or black food. You don't really want to eat it because it signals that it's probably past its best, or dangerous.

But when we see ripe tomatoes, juicy oranges, crisp green lettuce, and sunny yellow bananas...well...let's just say they're all going in your belly. You're probably even thinking about those juicy, nutritious fruits and berries right now. Mmmm....  :)

With a good selection of colourful fruits and vegetables, our bodies are able to repair themselves better and defend against a lot of human ailments. The effects of diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure can all be reduced if we concentrate on eating the rainbow.

 

 

Food and mood

Here's how common colours can impact your moods at mealtime:

Yellow: bananas, lemons, pineapples

Bright yellows make us feel happy and optimistic. It's the colour of sunshine, sunflowers and tropical cocktails! If you're feeling a bit low in mood, try preparing a bowl of banana and pineapple nicecream and decorate with some yellow garden flowers.

Orange: oranges, mango, papaya, carrots

Orange is known to make us feel more active. Orange food typically signals that it's high in vitamin C and beta-carotene which helps us feel more energised. If you're in a pre-work or pre-workout slump, boost your mood with a fresh juice or an orange-themed buddha bowl.

Red: watermelons, strawberries, apples, peppers

Red is supposed to make us feel more hungry. If you're in the supermarket, try and avoid the red produce if you want to spend less! Red foods can be associated with passion and intensity (romantic date night with choc covered strawberries, anyone?) and have been found to increase heart rate and respiration when we look at them.

Blue: blueberries, blue spirulina, butterfly pea flowers

Blue is a calming colour that can make us unconsciously think of serene environments such as the sky and the ocean. The presence of blue can lower anxiety, blood pressure and heart rates, making it a popular choice for decorating relaxation spaces, such as bedrooms and yoga rooms. There aren't many natural blue foods in nature, but the few that we eat are significant sources of goodness for our body and mind, being high in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

Green: beans, broccoli, lettuce, melons, matcha

Green is the colour of nature, and we just know that any green foods are going to be seriously good for us! Green foods rejuvenate our body and mind. If you've had a green smoothie or matcha latte lately, you'll remember just how good you felt afterwards!

 

So, if you feel you need to calm down, get motivated, or cheer up, try  making a brightly coloured, fresh meal in the colours above. Your body and spirit will thank you for it!