Have you ever caught a glimpse of yourself at home or in a restaurant eating a meal? Your eyes may not have rested long on your reflection as you sipped your iced tea or nibbled on a sandwich. But did you know that eating in front of a mirror could affect your enjoyment of a meal and even impact how much you eat? It might seem far-fetched but there’s science behind it. Let’s look at dining and the impact glancing at our reflection while we eat might have.
The Science of Eating Together (Even When You’re Alone)
Humans are, by nature, social animals. Most people who aren’t dedicated introverts like to share an occasional meal with other people. One reason is we associate eating food with celebrations, like birthdays, weddings, and enjoying a meal with friends. We create memories when we eat, so eating with others has a positive connotation. In fact, science finds that we eat more and enjoy a meal more when we dine with friends.
To explore this idea further, researchers at Nagoya University in Japan conducted an experiment. And what they found might change how you view eating. They asked older adults to eat popcorn in two settings. In one situation, they munched on popcorn facing a mirror, so they could see their reflection as they ate. In the other, they didn’t munch in front of a mirror. Instead, they faced a computer simulation of a blank wall. The results? When they ate in front of a mirror, they enjoyed the popcorn more but also ate more of it.
In another clever twist, they asked participants to eat popcorn in front of a photo of themselves. In this setting, they ate more and experienced more pleasure while eating it too. Scientists believe looking at a photograph of yourself or eating in front of a mirror gives the illusion of “dining with friends.” Therefore, you might enjoy the experience more but also eat more and consume more calories. Think of it as having dinner with your doppelganger – except this dining companion never steals food from your plate!
What’s Going on in Your Brain?
You might wonder what’s going on in your brain that explains this finding. Scientists believe it’s related to the mirror neurons in your brain. Your mirror neuron system is a network of nerve cells in the front, parietal, and limbic systems of your brain. These brain neurons, or nerve cells, help you interpret other people’s emotions and learn from them. For example, when someone waves at you, your mirror neurons “mirror” your action so you learn to wave back under the right circumstances. It’s a way we form human connections and interact with others.
In the case of dining in front of a mirror or a photo of yourself, your brain sees your face in the mirror or photo as it would someone else’s face. Therefore, it interprets your image as eating with someone else. In response, you get more pleasure from that meal but also eat more. Studies show that eating in a group causes people to unconsciously eat more food. So, if you’re trying to lose weight, putting the mirror away might be a smarter choice.
What Can We Learn from This?
Although this is an area that needs more research, there may be some ways to use the results of this study:
For people who often eat alone, especially older adults, a strategically placed mirror might make meals more enjoyable. Other ideas:
- Restaurants could design mirrored spaces that enhance solo diners’ experiences.
- Some people might find mirrors helpful for mindful eating practices.
- Older adults could use a mirror at home to make eating more enjoyable. Watch portion sizes though!
The above also leaves open the idea of whether a virtual dining companion might serve the same purpose. And if robots take off, could dining with a robot make a meal more engaging and satisfying? It’s an area that needs more research. It’s not clear whether the results apply to all age groups too, as the study only looked at older adults.
Are There Drawbacks?
On the downside, one study looked at girls with anorexia nervosa and how they approached eating in front of a mirror. They used skin conductance tests to measure their skin reaction to the experience and detected a more striking stress response. Girls with anorexia nervosa reacted negatively to seeing their reflection during a meal. It seems the mirror worsened their body image distortions, making dining more stressful. Research shows that mirrors tend to increase self-scrutiny among people with eating disorders, making them potentially harmful to this population. So, use mirrors cautiously. What works for one person may not for another.
Your Turn to Experiment
Why not give this idea a try? If you hate dining alone and you don’t have a dining companion, place a mirror where you can glance at yourself as you eat. You don’t have to stare at yourself non-stop. Just make sure your eyes can move freely toward the mirror Then see how it affects your meal. Do you feel more relaxed or enjoy eating more? Do you tend to eat more? Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The key is finding what makes your solo dining experience more enjoyable and meaningful. Just don’t expect your mirror companion to help with the dishes!
References:
- Newman, Tim. “How to Enjoy Eating Alone: Look in a Mirror.” Medicalnewstoday.com. Medical News Today, June 10, 2017. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317853.
- Knejzlíková T, Světlák M, Malatincová T, Roman R, Chládek J, Najmanová J, Theiner P, Linhartová P, Kašpárek T. Electrodermal Response to Mirror Exposure in Relation to Subjective Emotional Responses, Emotional Competences and Affectivity in Adolescent Girls with Restrictive Anorexia and Healthy Controls. Front Psychol. 2021 Sep 10;12:673597. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.673597. PMID: 34566754; PMCID: PMC8461306.
- Abdel Rahman, R., and Sommer, W. (2012). Knowledge scale effects in face recognition: an electrophysiological investigation. Cogn. Affect. Behav. Neurosci. 12, 161–174. doi: 10.3758/s13415-011-0063-9.
- Suwalska J, Bogdański P. Social Modeling and Eating Behavior-A Narrative Review. Nutrients. 2021 Apr 7;13(4):1209. doi: 10.3390/nu13041209. PMID: 33916943; PMCID: PMC8067568.
- Ruddock HK, Brunstrom JM, Higgs S. The social facilitation of eating: why does the mere presence of others cause an increase in energy intake? Physiol Behav. 2021 Oct 15;240:113539. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113539. Epub 2021 Jul 28. PMID: 34331957.
- Stice, E., & Shaw, H. E. (2002). Role of Body Image in the Development of Eating Disorders.
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