People Choose Healthier Food After Experiencing Nature


A new series of five experiments, published in Communications Psychology, reveals a fascinating pattern: when people spend time in nature—or even just imagine it—they tend to choose healthier foods. This effect appeared across several countries, different types of foods and beverages, and even when participants simply viewed photos of natural environments.

These findings highlight a powerful connection between nature exposure and dietary choices, suggesting that even brief moments with nature may motivate healthier eating.

🌿 Why Nature Matters for Health

Nature has long been associated with better health and emotional well-being. Research consistently shows that spending time in green spaces—such as parks, forests, and gardens—is linked to:

  • better overall health

  • lower cardiovascular mortality (Gascon et al., 2016)

  • improved cognitive development in children

  • better psychological well-being (Dadvand et al., 2015; Ma et al., 2019; van den Berg et al., 2015)

Living near water (lakes, rivers, oceans) provides similar benefits (Gascon et al., 2017).

Nature also supports mental health. Studies show that time outdoors can:

  • reduce suicidal tendencies

  • protect mental health

  • buffer the effects of chronic stress
    (Marselle et al., 2019; Mitten et al., 2018; Sturm et al., 2012)

Given these well-established benefits, researchers wondered: Could nature also influence the kinds of foods people choose?

🧪 What the New Studies Investigated

Study authors Maria Langlois and Pierre Chandon wanted to understand whether exposure to nature—either physically or through imagination—encourages healthier food choices.

Previous research hinted at this connection, but earlier studies lacked rigorous design. To address this, Langlois and Chandon conducted five controlled experiments in France, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Their main hypothesis:

Experiencing nature increases a sense of connection to the natural world, which encourages healthier attitudes toward the body and, in turn, leads to healthier food choices.

This idea aligns with earlier work showing a link between feeling connected to nature and healthier eating patterns (Miliron et al., 2015).

🌳 The Five Experiments

Study 1 – Nature Walk vs. Urban Walk (France)

  • 39 Paris residents took a 20-minute walk either in a large park or on nearby city streets.

  • Afterwards, they selected snacks from a buffet containing both healthy and unhealthy options.

  • Results: Those who walked through the park chose healthy snacks more often than those who walked in the city.

Study 2 – Imagining a View from a Hotel Room (U.S.)

  • 698 participants imagined looking out of a hotel window at either nature, an urban scene, or closed curtains.

  • They then selected items from a menu.

  • Results: Only the nature-view group chose significantly healthier meals.

Study 3 – Imagining a Scene for Packed Lunch (U.S.)

  • 883 participants viewed either a nature photo or an urban photo and imagined being in that environment.

  • They then selected a packed lunch and rated its healthiness.

  • Results: Nature exposure again led to choosing healthier lunches.

Study 4 – Healthy Snack vs. Indulgent Snack vs. Diet Snack

Participants chose between three snack categories.

  • Results: Those exposed to nature were more likely to choose the “natural, healthy snack” and less likely to choose either the indulgent or diet options.

Study 5 – Waterfront Nature Scene vs. Urban Scene (U.K.)

  • 913 participants imagined looking out of a hotel window at a green cliff waterfront or a modern city building.

  • Results: Those who viewed the nature scene consistently chose healthier food and drinks.

🌱 What the Findings Reveal

Across all five studies, the pattern was clear:

Experiencing nature—whether physically, visually, or imaginatively—leads people to choose healthier foods.

This effect was consistent:

  • across three countries

  • across multiple types of foods and beverages

  • regardless of whether participants walked in nature or simply viewed a photo

Importantly, the researchers found that:

People’s choices were driven by the desire for healthier food—not by weight-loss motivation.

Even when “diet snacks” were an option, nature-exposed participants preferred genuinely healthy foods, not low-calorie items.

🌄 What This Means for Health Interventions

These findings suggest that health campaigns and weight-management programs may benefit from incorporating natural environments or nature imagery. For example:

  • Walking paths in parks

  • Green design in cafeterias

  • Nature-themed dining areas

  • Well-placed nature images in food environments

Even small changes—like including nature scenes in indoor spaces—might nudge people toward healthier decisions.

The researchers conclude:

“Experiencing nature leads to healthier food choices.”
—Maria Langlois & Pierre Chandon

Their work highlights how everyday environments shape eating habits more than people might expect.
In the end, these findings offer a simple but powerful reminder: People Choose Healthier Food After Experiencing Nature.
To dive deeper into research on how everyday experiences shape eating behavior and mental well-being, you can explore more insights through the CNP Articles or visit the official website of the Center for Nutritional Psychology.

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