Psychology of eating

RESTAURANTS use different colours in their décor to affect appetite and mood. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most popular colours when it comes to eating.

Red is an appetite stimulant. There are plenty of red foods, from tomatoes, to strawberries and red peppers. Red also stimulates conversation, so it’s no surprise restaurants want to incorporate it into their colour scheme.

Orange is associated with need and hunger. Orange is commonly used in restaurants because like red it stimulates hunger, and restaurants want you to eat.

Yellow is a sociable colour. Bright yellows are used liberally in fast food restaurants – think McDonald’s.