For a tasty Thanksgiving meal, consider the small things
Nice linens, candlelight, and maybe some smooth jazz in the background. r maybe a bare tabletop, Ikea tableware, and some plastic grapes spilling out of your makeshift cornucopia table piece. However you celebrate your Thanksgiving meal, whether it’s with turkey, Tofurky, pumpkin pie, or gluten-free pumpkin spice bars, food will most likely take the center stage in this beloved night of all-American, family-friendly gluttony.
No matter the backdrop, there are some tiny tweaks to dining or dishware that can influence how bitter that after-dinner coffee (and, who are we kidding, schnapps) or gravy tastes. For years, researchers have been observing how environmental differences affect humans’ perceptions of flavor and taste of the foods that they eat. Because, you know, science.
If you’re looking to plate the perfect Thanksgiving meal — and perhaps give your cooking a subconscious flavor kick (although I’m sure there is plenty of flavor in that masterfully cooked turkey, you top chef, you) — consider selecting a dinner soundtrack full of brass instruments and lower-pitched sounds. Researchers have found that different pitches in music affect the bitter or sweet flavor in certain foods: More savory foods are associated with lower-pitched sounds, and sweet foods are associated with higher-pitched sounds.
The color of the dinnerware can also affect the serving size of your Thanksgiving meal, especially if you’re enjoying it family style. In a 2006 study, two researchers observed the serving size of pasta that 60 people served themselves buffet style, alternating the color of plates that were passed out to each person. Those with red plates serving themselves pasta with tomato sauce, and those with white plates serving themselves pasta with alfredo sauce helped themselves to 22 percent more pasta than those who served themselves sauce that contrasted with their plate color. While Thanksgiving is always a time to indulge, consider serving those mash potatoes or turkey on colored plates to curb the desire to go completely overboard. Even having a contrast between the tablecloth and dinnerware was found to reduce the serving size by as much as 10 percent.
And of course, something we’ve known for decades: People enjoy food more when they are in groups and in a good mood. While the former experience is guaranteed for many this Thanksgiving, the latter … well, not so much. If things do escalate, please resist the urge to chuck any plate, regardless of its color. That’s sure to spoil any good meal.
