Want to Eat Better? Stay Home

Making nutritious meals takes some work - preparing lean protein, cooking fresh vegetables, not to mention buying, cleaning, and chopping leafy greens. We might guess that eating out would help people make healthier choices.

But why? Wherever we are, we know that broccoli is better for us than french fries. New research suggests that we eat better at home because that's where we feel more comfortable and relaxed.

"The home is a privileged environment that nurtures healthy eating and in which healthier food choices trigger and are triggered by more positive emotions," explains Prof. Ji Lu of Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Catherine Huet, and Prof. Laurette Dubé of McGill University's Desautels Faculty of Management.

"Home is known to be where people feel most content, and the positive emotions often associated with home-cooked meals may be part of the recipe for a healthy diet," suggest the researchers.

The take-home message? Stay home to eat healthier, feel better, live longer and, as an added bonus, you'll feel better, too.

Source:
J. Lu, C. Huet, L. Dube. Emotional reinforcement as a protective factor for healthy eating in home settings. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2011; 94 (1): 254 DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.110.006361