Sick of stuffing her face with too much food, Cassie Fu (22), a final year at Edinburgh Napier University, has developed the ‘Belly Bowl’ - a ceramic dish with a two-sided bottom which starkly reveals how much we should be eating Vs how much we probably are eating.
Sit the bowl on one edge and fill it to the top and you’re over-consuming. Flip it over to lie on its adjacent edge and fill it level and your portion size is correct and falls within recommended guidelines.
Developed over six months, the ‘Belly Bowl” range, which also includes a pasta bowl and tumbler - to help tackle binge drinking - will go on display at the University’s annual School of Arts and Creative Industries’ Degree Show later this month.
Cassie (22) said: “We are all becoming notorious over eaters. When I am tired, extremely hungry or in a rush, I always end up piling my plate high, eating the whole lot and then I feel awful and lethargic afterwards. The Belly Bowl’s slanty design means you can control your portion-sizes and be aware of how much you are actually eating.
“Instead of piling all the food from your wok or pot on to your plate, you know when to stop and can store the rest away for another mealtime – not only helping to cut calories but also reducing the amount of food that’s wasted too.”
15 million tonnes of food is estimated to be thrown away in the UK each year with recent research revealing an average household bins £60 worth of meals every month.
Cassie added: “I want people to realise that they do not need to consume so much.”
Edinburgh Napier Product Design lecturer Ruth Cochrane said: “The ‘Belly Bowl’ explores an existing health problem in the UK, and one which is emerging across the globe. Our design students are encouraged to respond to this type of real-world challenge and Cassie’s idea for portion control is a simple yet delightful example.
“It is just one of the many innovative and creative projects on display at the University’s annual Degree Show, an event which acts as a fantastic showcase of Scotland’s emerging talent.”
This year’s Degree Show runs from 23 May to 1 June at the University’s Merchiston Campus, showcasing the work of more than 300 final year designers, musicians, photographers, creative writers and film-makers.