Check out my progress on The Lure of Packaging
As you might expect from my educational background, two of my chief interests are food and psychology. Among the many intersections of these two fields is food marketing—the whole process of how food companies convince us consumers to buy their product over another is fascinating to me.
The Huffington Post recently touched on this subject with an article on food branding. If you click through the slideshow, you’ll see several examples of creative food packaging, including a cereal box that includes a makeshift bowl, as well as a pasta box that separates individual servings. Genius! For health-nuts like us, I also thought this example was interesting:
Which of the above packaging styles would entice you to buy the product? My immediate preference was for the one on the far right—it’s neat, tidy, and reminds me of my grandmother…or perhaps Martha Stewart.
How much does packaging influence your shopping habits?
I find myself drawn to certain colors and styles of packaging, but the dietitian in me usually takes over before I make my purchasing decision—the nutrition label is inevitably the deciding factor!
I have to catch up on some Glee, so let’s get to the grub!
This morning’s breakfast was an Ellie recipe that I have been looking forward to making for a long time—Blueberry Buckwheat Pancakes.
My tweaks:
-Once again, scaling down the recipe required dividing an egg. This time, I chose to substitute the 1/2 egg with an equivalent amount of egg whites.
-I used more blueberries than called for in the original recipe—just because I love berries!
I’ve never used buckwheat flour before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. For one thing, I was unaware that buckwheat had such a distinctive, grey-ish hue to it. Nonetheless, it made for some delicious pancakes. I can’t wait to explore other ways to use this new flour.
The recipe is available online: Blueberry Buckwheat Pancakes
After a seriously successful grocery trip (details coming later this weekend!), I came home and made my usual spaghetti squash combo plate. It just never gets old.
My obsession with toasted sesame oil continues to influence my meal choices. Tonight, it appeared in a batch of Orange Sesame Tofu (from Eat, Drink, & Be Vegan).
Alright, off to get my Glee on. Happy weekend!
Filed under: Meals
Caroline Yoder, dietitian-to-be and all-around foodie.
I like the one on the right too!
I’ve been thinking about food packaging lately, too. I hate how it influences kids and hate to think that my daughter is going to want certain foods because they have a cartoon character plastered all over the container.
I’ve been a buckwheat fan for a long time–glad you’re enjoying it
Buckwheat groats make AMAZING porridge if you’re digging the flavor. One of my fave breakfasts.
The orange sesame tofu looks delicious, btw!
wow, I was at the grocery store yesterday and noticed that they had 3 (those exact 3!!) different kinds of baby carrot bags stocked in the refrigerator shelves. I remember thinking to myself, “wow it’s all the same carrots, why would anybody pay more for one brand over the other!” but totally agree that packaging does affect what you choose to buy. (nutrition labels are a huge, huge factor for me too!)
And basically all of your meals on here, I want to eat! YUM!!
You are a girl after my own heart. I can spend hours in the store just analyzing packaging, promotions and product placement.
It’s so intriguing!
To analyze the trends and stuff. SADLY produce does not come in packaging and so I am always eager to see a store use creative displays, free samples, and recipe cards to promote fresh produce.
Sad is the Lucky Charms Boxes that tout “whole grain! God for you now! Buy this for your Kids!”
I kid, but you know what I mean.
My personal rant of late is the “fruit to go” sold in the produce section because suddenly fruit is just too complicated.
However I love the individual steam in pouch potatoes and corn…whatever makes the produce easier to consume without processing it.
ah the psychology of marketing is so fascinating! but then i’m a psych major so i think the psychology of just about anything is fascinating
I just had my first buckwheat bake a la “edible perspective” and it was amazing! Those pancakes look similarly delicious
Food packaging and advertising definitely influences what I buy. What can I say, I love color and fun names. The dietician in me comes out, too, however. The ingredients and nutrition is really the main topic that should take over!
First of all; please know that I’m not trying to offend you in any way. I like your blog and I think you’ve a great style of writing and such a charming and friendly personality.
I’ve got a question for you though. Do you feel like you’re completely free from your ED. I know ( well at least I think I know because of your blog) you’re not skipping meals, eating a wide variety of foods, etc. but at the same time I almost never see candy/snacks (I know you don’t post anything, but still), a really big meal, a take-out meal different than the “safe” salads. You eat so, so healthy. Where’s the frap with whipped cream, where’s the chips…I’m not saying at all that should be a daily diet but I think it’s part of life.
I’m asking it because my ED was never about skipping or starving, it was about only eating “healthy” stuff. You mentioned your behavior at the salad bar and it was EXACTLY what I would do during my ED (all salad leaves, no dressing or only vinegar, few toppings…) I would love to hear about this from you!
BroccoliHut Reply:
March 26th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
Anonymous:
Thanks for your concern. The type of eating disorder you’re referring to is “orthorexia,” often described as a fixation on eating only “right” or completely healthy foods. I do acknowledge that I display some of the characteristics of this disorder. If you’d like to discuss the matter further, leave me a real e-mail address, and we can have a real conversation about it.
I have never tried buckwheat – what an interesting color.
I like bright colors so the package in the middle would have appealed to me.
I was a marketing major in college, but very interested by nutrition and health…so I’m actually going back to school to get a degree in nutrition science so I can work in the marketing side of nutrition and food. It’s so interesting, and definitely very prevalent today.
I like the one on the right too! Its super cute. I am definitely (sadly) influenced by packaging. The pancakes look very yummy. I need to get some buckwheat flour. And I totally forgot about those sesame coated cashews- they are amazing. Enjoy your weekend
Ooo I like the packaging on the right!!! I too find myself leaning towards certain types of packaging (usually organic browns and plain but modern packages). Have you seen the commercials for the carrots “eat them like junk food” they are HILARIOUS and awesome!
I like the last one on the right, too! It’s simple and classic.
I definitely am a sucker for good packaging. Part of the reason why I like ordering coffee from starbucks even though I can make a cup at home.
I generally try to avoid most packaging in general, but I am definitely a sucker for it. I love clean, modern design, and anything with a homemade feel to it- like paper bags and mason jars!
I agreed with you – the carrots on the far right. But my teenage brother would surely pick the one on the far left! ♥- K