Well I know I don’t snack at night if I just put myself to bed. I know I do snack more when I’m closer to temptation. And being ‘social’ tends to also bring out the snacker in me. So I need to be an anti social early to bed person if I want to curb snacking😂

What an amazing observation! I don't think many designers or homeowners have explored the relationship between design and human behavior. Fascinating.

No, have not observed that in my family or anyone I know.

How old are the kids? There is a definite change in eating patterns when boys become teenagers and are always starving!

They need to put out nice glasses and an enticing water dispenser and make drinking water their new social habit.

My parents have a tiny kitchen with lots of snack food in it. I have a tiny kitchen with no snack food in it. I snack less. It is availability of food that matters.

Cousin is a nutritionist by training so she’s likely more aware than most - but she says she especially notices the difference between the old house: her kids would grab a snack after school/practice then head upstairs for homework…

now with the new house, kids tend to do homework at the kitchen island and graze till dinner -

but I‘m an Atomic Habits nerd so I think the role environment plays in starting/extinguishing habits is super interesting 😅

There is an advantage of being able to have family and friends in this congenial setting which might outweigh some increased snacking. This would most likely fluctuate though, based on who/when/amount of time spent there. I can see a connection, but it could be addressed.

What is "Atomic Habits" lalagirl?

I think the problem is the availability of snacks. If you have a rule to only eat at meals or your snacks are things like carrots, it isn't a problem.

If you ask me? The problem is s.u.g.a.r./vs. protein and a little fat.

Don't believe it? Try this breakfast......

Take an Extreme Wellness Tortilla Wrap ( 60 cal , high fiber)

Scramble or fry two eggs, and a couple strips of bacon ( 200 cal total )

Roll it up in the warmed tortilla...

I DEFY you to be hungry before 5:00 on under 300 calories,

Women especially, have been sold a bill of goods. The myth of eat all day in small doses, Granola carbs and fruit just leaves you WANTING another small dose of the same.

Eat protein for breakfast...last nights chicken breast...great! Anything but cereal and toast.

Need a mid day? Skip lunch. A 200 cal power bar, with 20 gr of protein will do it.

Leave yourself a 1000 cals for dinner to include some vino. A big leafy salad, grilled chicken a small steak.... and yes, even a big plate of pasta!.

I defy you to get fat:) or be hungry, or to think of food all darn day, no matter where you are. Including that big ass kitchen.

PS... Cereal is a curse . All of it. It is overpriced, leads to more hunger. One exception? A bowl of oatmeal and a hard boiled egg.

jmho of course.

Yes Jan! If I have cereal, it is only high fiber with some fruit but I still get hungry for lunch. The days I have 1/2 bagel , scrambled eggs and some turkey bacon, I am all set for 8-10 hours!

I have always had small kitchens so I don't know if I would snack more in a big kitchen. I do close the kitchen ( even though it is open with my living room ) by turning all the lights off.

Such an interesting observation! People love to come together over food!

@Diana Bier Interiors, LLC - Atomic Habits is a book by James Clear that talks about strategies for creating good habits and extinguishing bad habits - lots of interesting research and practical strategies

@Sigrid agree, I just thought it was interesting that the new space is likely going to have to dicate some new snacking rules whereas the old space didn’t

I don't find this the case, personally. But we shop European style anyway because we have to carry stuff for blocks. But our kitchens have never been big, just tiny, very small, and pretty small.

I know people whose kitchens are so small that they eat more because it's all takeout. When we did not have a functional kitchen (for 4-12 years, long story) we at a Lot more and both weighed more.

Our additional cabinet space has really been taken over by more cookware, utensils, dishes, flatware and glasses.

We've also cooked entire large multicourse meals for 14, which is more than can be seated in the entire downstairs without removing furniture, so I am not sure that size has too much effect on our ability to cook or eat.

I think loading up a car with bulk shopping only periodically probably contributes more to people eating more than the size of the room directly.

@Deb Washburn

I think it is absolutely fact and agree!Everyone would agree that the power of suggestion is real......passing a bakery or a pizza shop and a scent wafting out. BUT, it is beyond easy to ignore if you are sated.

I tend to do everything at 100 miles per hour which includes downing a meal......so? When I put four chicken thighs, delightfully seasoned on that blessed George Foreman grill? I immediately wrap two and slam them in the fridge! I KNOW me: ) They're so darn hot, crispy, juicy, I could very easily eat all four without letting the first two even register in my tummy! But two of those with a big salad, some mashed potatoes courtesy Idahoan in the packet? I do the same with the mashed! Take a big healthy scoop, and wrap the rest right into the fridge. By the time I load the dishwasher? I am 100% happy, "full" and as to a snack after? Spell zero. NOT wanted at all. Nor dessert.

If you don't allow yourself to eat slowly over a period of about 20 minutes, you don't feel full for about 20 minutes and will eat more because you haven't gotten the signal that you are full.

You can easily see why I wrap before I go full speed ahead? My 20 min , unless out with others, can turn to six , in a heartbeat.

My local watering hole, which had a really great cozy bar and fabulous food? I'd head up there on a snowy night. Allen would yell out from behind the bar to the regulars,,,,,,,

" Ladies and Gentlemen , set your watches, she has a steak coming!, it is now 6: 55 pm............

My mom, who was one of the slowest eaters ever, and who didn't eat much either, always made us take a bite, put our utensils down and chew, swallow and then pick them back up. Of course that didn't persist so specifically once we left the house, but I find if I do that, at least to some extent, I eat much less. When I am out, I always eat this way because you're talking and so forth and I can't remember the last time I didn't bring half my meal home, because I am full.

It may not be the size of the new kitchen so much as it is the location and convenience of the location compared to the previous home. I have noticed the temptations are greater since moving from a two story home to a single story where the kitchen is closer to everything. Our home and kitchen is actually smaller so always within steps of every room in the home. perhaps the kitchen is in a too convenient location?

Large spaces are made for groups of people to get together and enjoy each other's company. If this space is a kitchen, food is a natural thing to gravitate to.

I believe it's the availability of the food, not the size of the kitchen. Her kids are doing their homework where the food is available, whereas before they went to another room where no food is available. Seems pretty simple to me. The solution is to keep the snack food behind closed cabinet/pantry doors -- out of sight, out of mind. Better yet, keep it out of the house.

A lot of snacking and grazing behavior is mindless. The only food item out in the open in my kitchen or eating area is a bowl of fresh fruit and some bread in a corner next to the fridge. Nothing else -- it's all behind closed doors, so I have to make a conscious effort to go get something, it takes the mindlessness out of the equation.

We may be unicorns but I've found we eat less food and much healthier as a result of our new, much larger kitchen because it's so much more efficient to meal prep. The smaller kitchen was dark which was discouraging to work in and counter space was limited. The sink, appliances and pantry were laid out so inefficiently, even making a sandwich was a chore. I don't want to cook everyday, when I'm hungry, I want something right then and won't go out. Having healthy options like fruit in a bowl on the island and prepared vegetables and entrees in the refrigerator has significantly cut down on junk meals which never satisfy. Having a large, efficient space to meal prep has also helped our grocery bill and resulted in less food waste.

If kids are involved, there is the tyranny of what one is smother will or won’t eat, essentially demanding that a Parental Unit keep the pantry/ fridge stocked with their favorites. I’m all in favor of some good choices- we used to serve or have available several different veg/ fruits because one like this or that. Plus the unbelievable array of snack foods that are designed to be irresistible- flavor, fat, salt, crunch) means I just can’t have them I. The house because I could not resist & would not expect my kids to either.

Thanks for the conversation - folks on this board are very disciplined with food!

FWIW i’m in marketing and have worked for Coke, Mcdonalds and several snack brands - we call it pantry loading, all the bigger sizes get more product into the house and we all know consumers eat what’s in the house (also keeps comptitive brands out).

I think it’s interesting that as portions/servings get larger, kitchens get larger and consumers get larger - I wonder at some point if we will look back aghast and think ”do you remember when we all had these huge kitchens?”

I saw a house design recently with a special ”Costco door” so bulky items could be moved from car/garage directly to an oversized pantry - my first thought was oooh all my food marketer friends are pumped!

anyhoo appreciate everyone’s thoughts :)

Personally, I think that the food habits of most Americans is pathetic. The overconsumption of carbs, salt, fat, sugar and highly processed "foods" is what has led to the explosion of diabetes, obesity and other diseases. Then the drug companies come up with medications to treat the diseases that wouldn't exist if we ate better and less food. The worst is that it starts with little kids who then are programmed both psychologically and physiologically to eat junk. It's a terrible cycle and it's very difficult to reverse. I don't think that it has anything to do with the size of your kitchen. It's a mindset.

WOW what a concept . I agree Diana the eating habits of many NAs is horrible . We snack on mostly peanut butter and celery it is our go to. I cook so no fast food here In fact I see people honestly complaining about the cost of food but buggy loaded with premade food what the heck is that? We have fabulous kitchens and don't cook ???? We have had International students for the last 15 yrs almost and we sure see the difference in eating habits from different countries and I will say a ll better than what I see from the NA kids even to what they like for lunch. IMO the parents are so bad the kids don't have achance to eat properly . Our kids are in their 60s and still eat pretty much the same as when they were at home so we all have about the same habits fresh food, cook most of the time and have a treat from time to time . We are all pretty healthy and not fat . It begins with parents being the boss not the kids .

Several years ago, I was waiting at a red light when a woman and her four or five children were crossing the street in the sidewalk. I noted with interest that she and each of the children, who ranged from stroller age to maybe seven or so had Coke cans and were drinking from them. No water, no milk, just Coke. And I felt appalled because as a child in the 1950s and 1960s we never had sodas nor fast food. Occasionally potato chips with a barbecue or at a party but not at other times. So much has changed but for me it never did. I loathe sodas of all kinds and many kinds of junk food. Alas, potato chips are not among them. Though I do tend to be careful with my intake I would prefer not to have them at all. But I do.

My home has a separate kitchen which is want I wanted. I have never liked the open concept style. I want my den, my meditation alcove, my living room my bedrooms and especially the kitchen, which while not large is not small either (and if I could I would downsize it anyway) as walled off separate rooms with sight lines but not the massive unpleasantness I see in pictures of them. They are definitely not for me.

I am fascinated by your question and your professional background, la_la Girl. Thank you for this brilliant and insightful discussion.

We drank Coke when I was a kid, but only on the weekend. A liter bottle would get opened and shared between 4 people. Water the rest of the time.

I did the same with my kids, but only allowed the soda when they were a bit older (around 8+) as a treat when eating out. Water or milk was the main drink.

We begged for Charlie Chip delivery to no avail, and my mom didn't start buying TAB until I was 18!

As to the new RFK / MAHA program - I sent an X message and said, essentially.........

" The poor have the worst food habits and the hardest time correcting them if they wanted to!

Address the SNAP rules, under which an overtired but diligent mom, attempting value and health for her kids? Can not, anywhere in this USA, grab a fully cooked and hot rotisserie chicken in the grocery store! She may however, load a cart with cereal and all manner of frozen , sodium laden chicken fingers , pizza rolls and Pop Tarts.

Why, you ask? Can this be true? You bet.....

" HOT FOODS AT POINT OF PURCHASE, are not allowed in SNAP. "

Now is that pure idiocy or is it me?: )

Pure idiocy