Does Posting Food Porn Lead to Healthy Eating?

What’s the first thing you do when a beautiful meal is placed in front of you? If you’re like me (and the rest of the world’s foodies) chances are you’re probably pulling out your phone to snap a quick photo for Instagram before digging in.

We’ve all given in to the #foodporn obsession. It’s Instagram’s most popular hashtag — whether we’re posting food ourselves or admiring other posts on our feed. It’s so popular that one London restaurant even started Instagram foodie packs, offering free kits (complete with an LED camera light, charger, clip-on camera lens, and tripod selfie stick) that help Instagrammers get the perfect food shot.

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Related Reading: A Pro Food Photographer’s Best Tips & Tools

But “food porn” is more than just a pretty picture: A 2017 study found that it can also help you stick to a diet or healthy eating plan, serving as an “interactive journal” of sorts where people can use Instagram to track their meals and rely on followers to support their process.

“I do have many clients who find taking and posting pictures to be extremely helpful, specifically for accountability,” says Lisa Moskovitz, CEO and founder of The NY Nutrition Group. “Not only are you putting it out there for who knows how many people, but you’re also gaining support and validation as well.”

It’s not a perfect method, though — especially when it comes to factors like self-esteem…and we all know the internet is notorious for trolling and other hateful activity.

“This can be a positive approach or a negative one if you’re someone who doesn’t do well with criticism or relies heavily on positive reinforcement or validation,” she says.

If you are maintaining a food-Instagram for the sake of staying on track, integrity is key: “The most effective way to use Instagram is to be realistic and honest with your posts,” says Moskovitz.

And, of course, making sure your food looks pretty is also a must.

If you’re looking for some inspiration for your Instagram, or simply enjoy following food posts, here are some great #foodporn accounts. Be sure to check out these great vegetarian blogs too.

@deliciouslyella

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🌈🌟✌🏻🍒A little rainbow smoothie for pride weekend 🍓 Four layers of banana ice cream with blueberries, raspberries, turmeric and spirulina to create the layers 🍌🍹

A post shared by Deliciously Ella (@deliciouslyella) on Jul 8, 2017 at 2:32am PDT

Ella’s motto is “celebrating what you can do with delicious, plant based ingredients.” After being diagnosed with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome, Ella decided to dedicate her life to creating recipes centered on a whole-foods, plant based diet. Her food is as vibrant as it is healthy — you’ll see every color of the rainbow in her cooking.

See more Deliciously Ella recipes.

@foodheaven

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Is it me or does it feel like a Sunday? What y’all up to today? I’m just here repurposing all types of leftovers. Recently, we asked you all what recipes you wanted to see more of. There were quite a few mushroom replies, which was surprising (not really sure why). It seems like people either love it or they hate it. ⠀ ⠀ I’m here for the challenge because mushrooms are such an easy food to prepare, and they don’t need much to make them delicious. I decided to whip up this 3 step umami rich Seared Soy Glazed Mushrooms recipe and paired with the Creamy Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes that we posted earlier this week! ⠀ ⠀ This dish is incredibly savory, and the mushrooms pair perfectly with the mashed potatoes. This recipe is great for the holidays too, if you’re looking for ideas for your next gathering. Enjoy below 💞-wen ⠀ ⠀ Ingredients ⠀ 1/2 lb maitake or oyster mushrooms⠀ 2 tablespoons olive oil⠀ 1 tablespoon soy sauce⠀ 1/4 teaspoon ground paprika⠀ 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder⠀ ⠀ Instructions ⠀ -In a small bowl, mix the oil, soy sauce, and spices. ⠀ -Add the mushrooms to another small bowl, and drizzle the marinade over the mushrooms, massaging it into the mushrooms. Let sit for an hour+.⠀ -Once ready, heat an oiled non-stick pan, and add the mushrooms. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side over high heat, until both sides are a deep golden brown

A post shared by Wendy & Jess, RDs, CDEs (@foodheaven) on Nov 29, 2019 at 12:12pm PST

What’s better than two best friends running a food Instagram together? Wendy and Jess are both registered dietitians with the philosophy that “healthy eating should be delicious, cost effective and relatively painless.” Their plant-based, mouthwatering recipes are proof of that.

The dynamic duo also runs a successful website and podcast.

@pinchofyum

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current obsession: big bliss bowls with the softest goat cheese scrambled eggs 😍😍, roasted potatoes, garden veg, tons of herbs, and a quick + bright garlic olive oil dressing. plus, obvi, lentils. . very loose recipe on the blog – but for sure the most valuable part of the recipe is the dressing. you don’t really need amounts to build a bowl, but follow that dressing recipe (with amounts, give and take to your tastes) and you will be a happy bliss bowl-er. really you can put that dressing in anything and it will go POP. 💥💥 . sooo basically this became a pitch for a dressing. awesome. linking the recipe here and in my stories! 👍🏼 . pinchofyum.com/lentil-bowls . #bowls #lentils #cleanfood #cleaneating #healthyeating #realfood #eggs #glutenfree #meatlessmonday #meatless #buzzfeast #feedfeed #eattherainbow #plantstrong

A post shared by Pinch of Yum (@pinchofyum) on Jul 12, 2017 at 7:29pm PDT

Lindsay does more than take pretty photos—she uses Instagram’s video feature to offer quick meal tutorials for her followers. She’s big on ensuring that her recipes are delicious, but also practical for busy cooks.

To find Lindsay’s recipes, check out the Pinch of Yum blog.

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