Color has a powerful effect on our emotions, perceptions, and behaviors. This includes the colors we eat. When it comes to stimulating appetite, the two colors most commonly associated with hunger are red and yellow.
Red, Yellow and Appetite
There are several reasons why red and yellow are thought to induce hunger:
- In nature, red and yellow often signify ripeness and health in fruits and vegetables, visual cues that tell us food is ready to eat.
- We associate these colors with beloved treat foods like tomatoes, apples, lemons, bananas, corn, and more.
- Red and yellow are stimulating, energetic colors, which may activate our senses and rev up our appetites.
- The color red is known to increase heart rate and stimulation, which may translate to excited anticipation for eating.
- Yellow is associated with joy and sunshine, uplifting emotions that pair well with the enjoyment of delicious food.
Research has uncovered some compelling insights on how red and yellow impact food appeal and consumption desires:
Studies on Red and Eating
Multiple studies reveal red has an appetite-boosting effect:
- People were more attracted to popcorn labeled with red stickers vs blue.
- Red plates increased the amount of food eaten compared to white or blue plates.
- Beverages seemed more thirst-quenching when packaged in red containers.
- Red lights increased purchasing of impulse snack foods in supermarkets.
- Just brief exposure to the color red doubled chocolate consumption in a taste test.
Why does red hold such power over our food cravings? Research points to an innate biological draw:
- Red is associated with ripe, ready-to-eat fruits in nature.
- Seeing red activates the tongue and increases salivation.
- It raises our heart rate and respiration, mimicking our physical response to eating.
- Red is linked with sweetness, priming us to consume higher-calorie foods.
These innate responses signal to our brains that red = energy and nutrition. We have evolved to respond to this color cue for survival.
Studies on Yellow and Eating
Like red, research confirms yellow can rev up our appetites:
- People chose a yellow cupcake over grey, red, green, or blue versions.
- Circular yellow signs increased hot dog sales at a baseball stadium vs green or red.
- Consumers said yellow M&Ms tasted better than all other colors, even though the flavors were identical.
- Yellow evokes feelings of happiness and sunshine, creating positive emotions that boost enjoyment of food.
Why does yellow motivate us to eat? Some key influences include:
- Vibrant yellow makes us think of citrus fruits and ripe bananas.
- It catches our attention more than mellower colors.
- Yellow enhances sweetness, priming us to seek sugary, carb-heavy foods.
- It lightens our mood and activates reward centers in the brain.
Together, these reactions tell our brains yellow = satisfaction. We instinctively want to repeat this by eating yellow foods.
Red vs Yellow: Which Color Most Stimulates Appetite?
Red and yellow are both big hunger triggers. But which color provokes the strongest food cravings?
Research results are mixed:
- In one study, red M&Ms were rated as tastiest over yellow and other colors.
- But in another, consumers preferred yellow packaging for cupcakes over red options.
- Participants ate more from red plates, but liked yellow popcorn labels over red.
Overall, the two colors appear closely matched when it comes to impacting appetite and consumption.
Other Influential Factors
Although red and yellow strongly influence hunger levels, other factors also play a role, including:
- Gender – Red enhanced appetite more in men; yellow was slightly more effective in women.
- Age – Younger people showed greater response to color cues than older adults.
- Culture – Color meanings are not always universal across cultures.
- Context – Appetite effects seem strongest when color is paired with actual food.
- Timing – Hue, intensity and combinations with other colors can all impact results.
This indicates our biological reactions interact with demographics, associations, situations, and more to shape color’s effects on hunger.
Applying Red and Yellow to Boost Appetite
Because red and yellow can strongly influence cravings and consumption, leveraging these colors is an impactful strategy for restaurants, food brands, chefs, and home cooks. Ways they might harness the appetite-boosting potential of red and yellow include:
- Selecting red and yellow ingredients, like tomatoes, carrots, peppers, lemons, and pineapple
- Using red or yellow plates, bowls, placemats, or utensils
- Incorporating red or yellow foods into dishes, like berries, saffron rice, or cheese
- Highlighting red/yellow foods in menus and promotions
- Featuring red and yellow prominently on packaging and logos
- Decorating dining rooms with red and yellow accents
- Tinting lighting to accentuate reds and yellows in dishes
When strategically used, these simple red and yellow elements can go a long way in enticing diners, boosting sales, and enhancing the eating experience.
Should Red and Yellow be Avoided to Reduce Overeating?
With their established appetite-enhancing effects, should red and yellow be avoided entirely if the goal is to eat less? Not necessarily.
Completely restricting colors could backfire, leading to feelings of deprivation and rebellion. However, being mindful of color effects allows us to make informed choices.
Some better strategies for reducing overeating of red/yellow foods include:
- Eating them earlier in the day as part of a balanced breakfast or lunch
- Portioning indulgent red/yellow foods out rather than eating directly from packages
- Diluting the color intensity by combining them with greens, blues, etc.
- Choosing paler shades of red/yellow to reduce appetite impact
- Balancing any red/yellow treats with lots of lower-calorie foods
Acknowledging colors’ influence allows us to enjoy red and yellow foods in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet.
Conclusion
Research clearly shows red and yellow can ignite hunger signals and motivate us to eat. Nature primes us to associate these colors with ripe, nutritious foods ready for consumption.
While the two colors perform similarly in stimulating appetite, context, demographics, and other factors also come into play. Harnessing red and yellow’s appetite-enhancing power through strategic use in foods, servingware, and environments can benefit restaurants and brands.
For individuals looking to reduce overeating, avoiding red and yellow completely is not necessary. With awareness of their effects, these colors can be enjoyed in balance as part of a healthy, moderate diet.
