The High-Fact Diet

Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to food choices. We share new findings and bust some myths so that you can get smart about what goes on your plate

We make an astonishing number of food decisions every day – more than 200, in fact. Of course, we’re not aware of all these decisions, as on many occasions it’s our subconscious coming into play. On the one hand, this allows us to focus more on other things, but on the other hand, it can lead to not-so-healthy decisions, especially when it comes to something as emotionally charged as eating. But how can we navigate this maze, become smarter eaters and really enjoy food if we don’t even know the role our mind and brain play in our daily food choices? Thankfully, research in this area has made great progress in recent years – a stroke of luck not just for our health, but also for our enjoyment of the food on our plates.

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR FOOD RADIUS

We’ve barely got up and we’re already thinking about food. Where should we get coffee, and what will we have with it? Where’s a nice place to have lunch, and with whom? Sushi or pizza after work? And what do I need to top up in the fridge? We make 80% of all food decisions at home or in the nearby area. Our direct home environment, and a small radius of less than 10km around it, determines how and where we satisfy our hunger and culinary cravings every day. Psychologist Brian Wansink calls it the food radius.

We notice the degree to which this becomes a habit as soon as our food radius changes, like when we go on holiday.