Some Bad News About Those Easy One-Bowl Meals  

From ancient grain bowls to mason-jar salads, one-pot meals are Instagram gold and seriously save on dish-washing—but it might not be so great for mindful eating, according to a new study published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Researchers found that eating all your food mixed together in a single bowl might make you eat faster and consume more than eating the exact same meal served unmixed. (So, not bad news if you can’t stand the thought of your peas touching your mashed potatoes.)

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For the study, women ages 20 to 30 ate Korean bibimbap, a mixed rice dish, on separate days. During the first trial, the dish was presented the traditional way, in a single bowl. The following day, the meat, rice, sauce, and veggies were served separately.

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Although the two meals were identical, the women consumed approximately 100 more calories when eating from the single bowl. Worse: They didn't report feeling fuller than when they’d eaten the same dish piecemeal. They also ate about six grams per minute faster than when their food was separated. 

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Although the study was small (with just 29 women in the test group), the authors concluded that separating your food could be a good way to prevent overeating—without leaving you feeling hungry. Chowing down on ingredients individually may slow you down enough for your gut to send "I'm full" signals to your brain, letting you know it’s time to step away from the dinner table.

Hey, we love a good burrito bowl, but it never hurts to slow your roll a bit in the name of mindful eating. 

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