It may make you feel like you’re in a Portlandia skit, but eating local and learning more about where your food came from can have more than just environmental benefits. If you know the story behind your food's origins, you may enjoy eating it more—and therefore require less of it to feel satisfied, suggests new research in the journal Appetite.
 
In the study, people were given samples of Vermont artisan cheeses, along with information about the producers. The study participants were average consumers—not connoisseurs—yet they reported a heightened sensory experience when they learned the history of the farm and the technique by which the cheese was made. Several even noted "a certain personal connection" to the artisan cheeses—much different, they said, than the feelings evoked by supermarket varieties.
 
The effort behind artisanal cheese even seemed to enhance the flavor: The consumers said they detected grassy, earthy flavors absent from "generic" cheeses and thought the producers' pride and love was reflected in the final product.
 
One participant added that knowing the "farm story" increased his attentiveness while eating—a statement strikingly similar to the mindful-eating movement, which suggests that paying attention while you eat will reduce your intake since you'll be more satisfied with a smaller amount of food.
 
So go ahead, spend a few extra moments reading the labels of fresh fare, whether it's from Whole Foods or your local farmer's market—you may just find that your food tastes a little better. 

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