Veteran dieters know one way to eat less is to use smaller plates to fool the eye into thinking we have more food in front of us. But new research revealed the color of our plates and tables matter just as much.

Studies with nearly 200 participants between the ages 18 and 39 showed promising results. Those who were served food on tables with a higher color contrast between the plates and the tablecloth overindulged more than people who ate from plates with colors more closely matched to the table. In addition, the plate size also came into play as those with larger plates ate more.

Better still, the people who ate less still walked away from the table fully sated.

“[This trick] could simply lead consumers to satisfy their hunger while unknowingly eating less,” the researchers wrote. “It may be easier to change our personal environments than to change our minds.”

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