A bowl of steaming beef stew can be one of the most profound expressions of “I love you” some people will ever receive, or give. And how that meal is served can mean the difference between communicating “Here’s your damn dinner,” and “You make my knees weak, and I’ll look after you as best I can for the rest of my life.”
But even if that doesn’t motivate you to spend a few bucks and take a little time in setting aside a delightful corner for delicious peace and sustenance, here’s a little secret that might get you there.
People wouldn’t be so fat if they dressed their table better.
This core tenant from the excellent book French Women Don’t Get Fat appeals to both my artistic soul that desires to be saturated with Beauty and my artistic backside that desires to fit into my favorite Not Your Daughter’s Jeans.
Her theory in a peanut shell: my spirit craves a baseline of aesthetic pleasure.
By creating an intentional focus on the pleasures available on the peripheral leading to the moment of swallowing a forkful of mashed potato, I can expand the sensual experience and satisfaction to the point of almost being full before I bend my elbow for that first bite.
What a gift! I now give myself an extra ten minutes at the market to find a cheese we’ve never tried before or choose a perfect field-ripened tomato. We hover over that pot of simmering fragrant bouillon, and imagine the one herb that will make this particular chicken soup unique and delightful, never before created, anywhere. I light some candles and savor the moment the wick catches. Sometimes I’ll remember to pick a new CD, or choose a new angle for the napkin, or place the bread so it catches the light and glows.
I don’t remember to be this intentional every time, but when I do, the meal becomes a thing of Beauty.
And if the idea has appeal but seems a bit over the top for you, here’s an easier approach: turn off the TV.
Budget-Friendly Items for a
Well Dressed Table
Sur La Table Deruta-Style Dinner Plate
BTW, this plate is a brilliant “portion control” aid: it’s the size of a regular dinner plate, but since a substantial portion of the surface area is decorative, it all but screams “Put the food on the white part, Chef!” Also, research shows that a higher color contrast between plate and the food served creates the perception that you’re eating more than you actually are, which in the case of bubbly cheesy lasagna is a good thing for those trying to keep their waistlines in check.
Bistro 18/10 Stainless Steel Flatware
Preferences in flatware are extremely personal, so while this particular design—a pattern that balances between classic and contemporary—appeals to us, you may find others that suit your fancy better. Regardless of the style specifics, make sure to have flatware that feels great in your hand and your mouth. No calories there!
Tip: shifting to something even just a little heavier than you’re accustomed to will bring an awareness and intentionality to every bite.
Repeat after me and then write on the chalk board 100 times: “I will not use paper towels as napkins ever again.”
Here’s the math: paper towels used as napkins are thrown out after the meal. Ergo: eat too fast… make a mess on your face… wipe with a disposable item that gets chucked after dinner. NO PENALTY.
Cloth napkins have to be washed, dried, folded, and put away, and no one wants to do that more than they have to. Ergo: use cloth napkins, but slow down the meal so every forkful is placed purposefully in your pie hole… make a point of not splashing sauces around the corners of your mouth… give your stomach time to catch up to the program… feel full, happy and satisfied sooner, and eat less.
Tip: Using cool unmatched napkin rings that are person specific can extend the frequency of laundering over several meals. You don’t want to use someone else’s napkin—ick!—but no one minds using their own over again for a meal or two.
Interestingly, the same study mentioned above also found that minimizing the color contrast between the serving plates and the tablecloth or placemat helps dial back servings by as much as 10%. Maybe this is why fine restaurants choose white plates against white tablecloths: the combination together gives the best shot at creating the illusion that a smaller portion looks bigger than when served against other color combinations, leaving the customer sated without feeling stuffed.
Sparkling clean wine glasses? Yes, please. They make me happy even when they’re empty!
Crystal Classical Candlesticks
Not going to quote any research here, but I can positively, absolutely guarantee that not only do I look better in candlelight, but so does anything that goes on the plates.
The opulent glow, mechanism, and elegance of this table accessory just makes you feel rich. And while we categorically do NOT believe it’s true that “you can’t be too rich or too thin,” there is something psychologically elevating about surrounding oneself, especially at the table, with items that quietly speak the message, “You have enough. You don’t need ‘more.'”