If you’ve ever put too much food on your plate because it looked delicious, you might have had someone say to you that your eyes are bigger than your belly!

Most humans eat with their eyes. That’s why any good cook knows that it’s important to present food in a way that interests and excites the people eating it.

Colour

Meals that have contrasting colours or complimentary tones appeal to most of us. Have fun with colour. Incorporate vibrant colours into your cooking and use cooking techniques that preserve or enhance natural colours.

Portions

Less is more! Try to achieve balance on the plate in terms of food groups and the amount of space certain components of a meal take up on the plate. Sure, some ingredients may be more of a hero” than others, but you can also hero an ingredient subtly without it having to take over the plate.

Texture

A variety of textures within a meal keeps us engaged and ensures every mouthful is interesting. Some smooth avocado, chewy whole grain bread, gooey poached eggs, runny yoghurt and crunchy dukkah makes for a perfect and interesting brunch, every mouthful. Check out this mouthwatering recipe!

There is no right or wrong way to present food. Have fun, make a mess and don’t be afraid to try new things. Soon enough, you’ll be a plating pro!

Truly memorable food excites all our senses. Next time you sit down to enjoy a meal, try answering some of these questions.

What did it taste like?
What did it feel like?
What did it smell like?
What did it sound like?
What did it look like?