Theo Vekseth, Linus Oshaug and Kristian Overrein go to Steinkjer high school. They are at the shop during their break. – It’s lunchtime, and today the packed lunch wasn’t enough. So then I bought a pizza spin and an energy drink, says Kristian Overrein. – Why did the choice fall on pizza spin? – It was on sale, replies the teenager. When asked what is important to teenagers when it comes to choosing food, the answer is simple. – Then I think about taste, says Overrein. The boys agree on which food they like best: pizza, tacos and the like. But what about vegetables? – I’m not very good at vegetables, says Theo Vekseth. And he is not alone … Theo Vekseth, Linus Oshaug and Kristian Overrein have been to the shop during their break. The choice fell on pizza spins and energy drinks. Photo: Julie Haugen Egge/news Something we unconsciously think about Have you ever thought about why you choose the food you do? What is the most important – taste, content or perhaps sustainability? Naturally, few of us choose things we don’t like to put in our mouths. Nevertheless, it is not just taste, but also another factor that is about as important – something we may not have as conscious a relationship with. – The texture is an equally important factor. Many people reject food because it is, for example, too hard or too creamy, says Katerina Katsikari to news. She is a research fellow at the food research institute Nofima, and researches how the texture of food affects our choices. The long-term hope is that changing the texture of the food we often resort to can lead to less overeating in the future. Easier to eat a lot of In recent years, what is called ultra-processed food has become a challenge in society. Examples of this are fast food, frozen dinners, biscuits, soft drinks, cake mixes, breakfast cereals, ice cream, margarine and unhealthy snacks. According to research, this food can be dangerous for our health, and today it makes up more than half of all food eaten in many Western countries. Much of the ultra-processed food has a soft and airy texture. This also means that it spends less time in the mouth and in our digestive system. Such food is less filling. This in turn means that it can be easier to overeat unhealthy food. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Because the food industry can choose its own methods when processing food. What is ultra-processed does not need to have a soft and airy texture, explains researcher Paula Varela Tomasco. – The food industry can choose processing methods that give the food products a more compact texture, and thus an increased feeling of satiety. This can be an important step in preventing overeating. Pizza is a definite dinner favorite among many. But what can be done to make this type of food a little healthier, but still be just as good? Photo: Pixabay Maybe a key? According to the Norwegian researchers, there is now a greater interest in researching consistency in food than before. The texture is, among other things, important for choosing the portion size. The consistency can also cause people to opt out of certain types of food. An example is tough steaks and cuts of meat. Then the taste quickly comes second. But what if you could use the texture in a good way? Make food that tastes just as delicious as the soft one, but still fills you up faster? – We hope to understand how food texture can be used to make food that is well-liked and just as satisfying for consumers, but which is also eaten in smaller portions, says researcher Paula Varela Tomasco. She believes this could be a key to reducing overeating and fighting obesity. – Perhaps the processing level is also about textures that promote overeating? Think of a whole fruit compared to a smoothie, says the researcher. – You have to cut, bite and chew the fruit for much longer, but you can drink a smoothie quite quickly. It is also different how the body utilizes these nutrients. Paula Varela Tomasco is professor and researcher at Nofima. Among other things, they have looked at the consistency of various smoothies. Photo: Private
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Researchers try to prevent overeating – news Trøndelag
