Evaluation of the effect of food presentation style on taste perception

Taste and palatability of foods are important factors in food intake, but in most cases the first sensory contact with food occurs through sight. It is thought that visual cues can be used to increase the consumption of vegetables and fruits in community nutrition. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of shapes, which are a visual factor, on sweet taste. The study was conducted with 30 volunteers from a foundation university. In order to understand the effect of different shapes on taste perception, angular (square, star) and oval (round) shapes created by using standard patterns were used in three different fruits and vegetables. Participants were asked to evaluate the food they tasted after each tasting while hungry and full. The feeling of hunger and fullness did not cause a significant difference in sweet taste level (p≤0.05). A significant difference was seen only in the star-shaped watermelon, and the star shape was recorded as sweeter when hungry. According to gender, while women and men were affected by different shaped fruits at varying rates (p<0.05), it was seen that women were also affected by vegetables (p<0.05), but no significant difference was found for men (p>0.05). When evaluated according to the age group, the perceived sweet taste in both fruits and vegetables was affected differently in the younger age group (p≤0.05). While there was no significant difference in the taste scores of overweight individuals (p>0.05), the subjects with normal body mass index were affected in different ways (p≤0.05). More studies are recommended on the presentation of vegetables and fruits in interventions for public health. In this way, the consumption of fruits and vegetables offered in different presentation styles can be increased.