First Seen is First Eaten – The Solution

Who has co-workers who bring all their leftover holiday goodies to the office? Raise your hand and go “Me, me, me!”

We bring these because we wisely don't want them to taunt us in our house. Within a week the Associated Press will be releasing a gonzo article telling you what you can do with all of these extras.  It’s partly based on some studies an amazing buddy of mine from France (Pierre Chandon) and I did. We looked at what happens when people bring tons and tons of food home from places like Sam’s Club, Costco, and BJs. 

We discovered the way you pack leftover foods and bulk-bought foods away in your cupboards or fridge, will trick you the next time you open it. Whatever you see first is what you’re most likely to take and eat. It’s the food you compare the others to. You see it, you skim the rest of the fridge or cupboard, and then you take it. This is as true at home as it is in company refrigerators and in those hip companies that provide people with all the free food in their hip kitchens.

You can’t really change your instinct to grab the first food you see. What you can do, however, is make sure this first food isn’t a plate of fudge or thumbprint cookies. You can make sure the food that’s front and center on that front shelf lines up with your New Years resolution. 

At home, this is easy. Now’s the time of the year to load up that center shelf with the fruit that’s slowly withering away in the crisper, or with 10 for $10 yogurts. 

At work it's a big tougher, but if you wrap up some of those leftover office treats in foil and put them in the back of the fridge, they’ll still be waiting for everyone next year at this time.