A new study by Ohio researchers finds that experimenting with unconventional methods while drinking and eating can help you enjoy your meal better. Four Mumbaikars put the study to test
Merlyn Michae. Pic/sameer Markande
Imagine taking a bite into your favourite dish for the first time ever. The flavours surprising your palette and blowing your mind with the textures. Your first kiss with your partner may never return, but you can definitely enjoy the first bite again. Researchers at The Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business found that people found new enjoyment in popcorn, even water, when they consumed them in unconventional ways. Co-author of the study Robert Smith, assistant professor of marketing, was quoted as saying, "When you eat popcorn with chopsticks, you pay more attention and you are more immersed in the experience. It's like eating popcorn for the first time." Even lapping water from a bowl like a cat had the same result. Does it really work? We asked four Mumbaikars to turn guinea pigs for the experiment.
Burger with a fork and kife
Merlyn Michael, Media professional
ADVERTISEMENT
This one time I ordered a takeaway burger and realised that I had no access to water to wash my hands or even a hand sanitizer. A fork in my tiffin bag came to the rescue and now I've secretly started enjoying eating burgers with fork — it's easier and less messy as you can eat in smaller portions, versus trying to take big bites and having the sauce and food bits drip all over you. The first time, it did feel slightly different. Also, I struggled to break the patty as I didn't know how to go about cutting it down. However, the second time was a lot easier since I was already prepared to do this. Eating small bites of the burger with a fork helps you relish the burger better as you indulge in the layers bite by bite. Otherwise, one is usually concentrating on being able to fit the burger into your mouth and trying to chew all of it instead of relishing each bite.
Icecream with a butter knife
Manjyot Rait, Operation and enterprise risk manager
Manjyot Rait. Pic/Satej Shinde
When I first heard of the study, my immediate instinct was to try the food I love most , ice cream, but with a butter knife. When I started, it felt like scraping hard butter from the jar. The first bite had my taste buds confused — butter or ice cream? But as the familiar flavour hit my tastebuds, it wasn't any different. After a few knives, my gums began to get sensitive due to the cold butter knife touching them. It was uncomfortable. You can't overeat ice cream this way; I think we can apply these unconventional methods for people who wish to curb their cravings. There was no novelty in the subsequent bites. And, while I may do it again in the absence of a spoon, I'm going back to eating ice cream with a spoon.
Tea with a straw
Gitikka Ganju Dhar Anchor and talk show host
Gitikka Ganju Dhar at her Bandra home. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi
Tea time is a chance to slow down, pull back and refresh. Since my twenties, tea has been my go-to drink. All these years, I've sipped it just the way the world does, directly from a cup. At home, I stock a multitude of flavours ranging from yellow and Oolong to Pu-erh, but for this experiment, I decided to try regular milk tea. For starters, we were fortunate to find a straw that was strong enough to not give way when dipped in the hot liquid. Then we picked a glass that would enhance the sparkle of the molten colour. We opened the windows and let the atmosphere in. At last, we drank the great tea from a straw. Well, it was different and tasty. In an irreverent vein, I would call it a one-alright-stand. Once is good enough, but I tried it three times to see if the experience grows on me. The first time, a gush of hot liquid burnt my tongue; the second time I was more careful but the third time I got it right and it definitely seemed like a fun thing to try. The research, to some extent, may apply to certain kinds of food and drinks, but not necessarily all. In the case of tea, I think everyone usually loves tea and there is no need to drink tea in a focussed manner. It's naturally a drink that elicits a lot of focus from the drinker.
Popcorn with Chopsticks
Richa Thakur Brand marketing consultant
Richa Thakur
While I like experimenting with food by tasting it and eating it differently, this was my first stint with popcorn. To begin with, I usually eat popcorn by picking a handful and popping them all together into my mouth. Picking up popcorn using a chopstick began with first attempting to pick two or three kernels together but finally settling on one to ensure they don't scatter before being popped. My popcorn was a mix of salted and caramel so on the second attempt, the one first I picked was the salted; eating a single popped corn made me feel its texture of multiple coarse folds. The flavour was enhanced like a gourmet preparation. On the third attempt, I picked two together — one salted, one caramel — and they complemented each other perfectly. I would agree with the study, as when eaten in different styles, one pays more attention to the food as the mind becomes more attentive due to the break in the routine eating style. I am going on try this with various foods.
Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, crime news, current affairs, and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
