THE EDIT
The new studies and stats you need to know about
Words Niamh Leonard-Bedwell. Photographs iStock by Getty Images
WHY INSTAGRAMWORTHY FOOD APPEARS HEALTHIER
The way food looks undoubtedly plays a role in whetting our appetite. But while we’re under no illusion that pizza counts as health food, however appealing it looks, presentation can make food appear more virtuous. A US study tested whether food with ‘pretty’ aesthetics – mimicking patterns in nature – was judged healthier than ‘ugly’ food. Participants ranked two plates of avocado toast according to how ‘healthy’ and ‘natural’ they appeared. Despite containing the same ingredients, the one with more aesthetically pleasing presentation was ranked as healthier. The moral? Don’t judge a toast by its topping.