ENJOYING SWEET TREATS WITHOUT THE SUGAR RUSH may be possible with a new device that can isolate "several natural aromatic molecules that could be used to trick our brains into believing that desserts and other foods contain more fat, sugar or salt than they actually do."  Research presented at the 252nd National Meeting of the American Chemical Society is working to use aromas to compensate for lower levels of fat, sugar or salt in foods and make those healthier foods more appealing to consumers. The research is being conducted by Thomas-Danguin and his colleagues at the Centre des Sciences du Gout de l'Alimentation in France. Read the full article from phys.org here.

BELIEFS ABOUT HOW FARM ANIMALS ARE RAISED CAN IMPACT WHAT A CONSUMER TASTES was one of the findings from a recent study at Northeastern University in Boston. The researchers conducted three experiments to test their hypothesis that 'believing meat came from animals that suffered would reduce the pleasantness of the eating experience as well as product consumption.' In one experiment, participants were given two identical samples of organic beef jerky that were labeled as being from either a 'humane farm' or a 'factory farm.' Participants ranked the 'factory farm' sample as less pleasant in a number of categories, were willing to pay 22 percent less for a six-ounce package, and consumed less of the product. In another experiment, participants sampled three identical slices of deli ham, but reported that the one labeled 'factory farm' ham tasted 'saltier, greasier, and less fresh' than the one with the 'humane farm' label. One of the study's authors summarized the research findings:  "Beliefs are really powerful. Words are really powerful. They influence what you do, often in surprising ways." Read a summary of the research here.

POLITICS AND THE DINNER TABLE DON'T MIX is an old adage that some food companies and restaurants have chosen to ignore. Several companies have taken high-profile stances on issues in recent years, including Ben & Jerry's, Chick-Fil-A, Chipotle, Shake Shack, Starbucks and Whole Foods. A restaurant industry consultant says that whether mixing politics with business is a good idea depends on the company, tonality, and the issue. For example, Chipotle's 'food with integrity' promise was called into question by a lawsuit over its non-GMO stance and illness outbreaks in 2015. In other cases, a CEO's public political stance can potentially impact the company's brand and products. Access the full article to read other examples. 

DECIDING WHEN TO OUTSOURCE ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE FUNCTIONS can be difficult for many businesses, but it can be a way to help owners stay focused on what is most important. The Cloud Accounting offers seven potential benefits for finding an outside professional resource to handle finance and accounting tasks, including: being more efficient, reducing costs, eliminating fraud, finding qualified and experienced staff, having an ability to scale, improving cash flow, and better managing your business. Read the full article.

A CLEAN DESK AND ORGANIZED WORKSPACE  can lead to higher productivity and better time management when working in an office. Taking the time to declutter a workspace before starting a task can help you focus on the job at hand. 

Tips for being more productive at your desk include:

Additional tips can be found here along with an infographic with suggestions for setting up a productive workspace.

BOOK REVIEW: GRIT:  THE POWER OF PASSION AND PERSEVERANCE. Why do some people succeed and others fail?  Psychologist Angela Duckworth shares stories and research behind her hypothesis that what really drives success is not talent, but a unique combination of passion and long-term perseverance she calls "grit." In Grit, Duckworth takes readers from cadets struggling through their first weeks at West Point to teachers working in some of the toughest schools and also shares what she learned from interviewing dozens of high achievers. The book offers insight on how grit can be learned, regardless of IQ or circumstances, how lifelong interest is triggered, and why any effort you make ultimately counts twice toward your goal.