The Surprising Power of a Little Blue Plate
The Surprising Power of a Little Blue Plate
When clients come to see me to explore their relationship with food, one of the first things I hand them is a little blue plate. It’s not a fancy gadget or a complicated diet plan. Just a standard-sized side plate — and almost without fail, it raises eyebrows. Some laugh. Others look visibly horrified. But that unassuming blue plate holds more power than it seems.
So, how does something so simple play a part in weight loss and better eating habits? Let’s break it down.
The Problem with Eating on Autopilot
We live in a fast-paced world. Meals are often rushed, eaten in front of the TV or while scrolling on a phone. Eating has become something we do while doing something else, a background act. And if you were brought up with phrases like “You must finish what’s on your plate,” that programming likely still echoes in your habits, long after childhood. The problem? We end up eating mindlessly, automatically clearing the plate — not because we’re still hungry, but because the food is there.
Disrupting the Pattern
Now imagine a new rule: you can eat until you’re full — but only from the little blue plate. That’s it. What happens next is subtle but powerful.
When the food is gone, there’s a pause. To eat more, you’d have to stand up, go back to the kitchen, and serve yourself again. That pause is crucial — it’s a break in the automatic loop. It’s often all someone needs to stop and ask, “Am I actually still hungry?” That moment of awareness is where change begins.
Why Size — and Colour — Matter
This plate isn’t just small for the sake of restriction. Historically, dinner plates were much smaller than today’s oversized versions. We’ve been conditioned to feel short-changed unless our plate is full, regardless of the plate’s size. Downsizing to a side plate lets you see a full portion, without the excess — a simple trick that speaks directly to your brain’s sense of satisfaction.
And the colour? That’s no accident either. Think for a moment: how many naturally blue foods can you name? (Blueberries don’t count — they’re more purple than blue.) Blue is rare in nature when it comes to food, and as a result, it’s known to naturally suppress appetite.
The little blue plate is more than a quirky gimmick — it’s a quiet disruptor of old habits. It brings mindfulness into meals, makes portion control feel effortless, and gently reminds your brain to check in with your body. Eating should be an intentional act, not a mindless one. Sometimes, real change doesn’t come from overhauling everything at once — it begins with something as simple as choosing the right plate.
