Instagramming your food, or “foodstagramming,” is a trend that everyone loves to hate. Articles begging for the end of this fad can be found in publications from GQ to Brooklyn Magazine, and some restaurants have gone so far as to ban foodstagramming from their establishments.

foodstagramming

GIF courtesy of giphy.com

Has anyone ever told you to stop taking pictures of your food and just eat it? Now you can tell the haters to crack their phones out, too, because a study published in the Journal of Consumer Marketing concluded that the process of taking that picture makes the most decadent desserts in America and plates of fried butter balls seem to taste even better than they normally would.

foodstagramming

Photo courtesy of @kametterod on Instagram

Everyone loves salt and sugar, but what does Instagram have to do with healthy food? It turns out that just seeing images of healthy food makes eating healthy seem more appetizing. When you upload that gorgeous picture of your salad (that practically belongs in a museum), you are also helping everyone that follows you make better life choices. You’ll be helping others eat fast food in a healthy way and also form better eating habits, such as eating mindfully.

foodstagramming

Photo courtesy of @nashvillefoodie on Instagram

Besides the taco eye candy that you have saved for later, the benefits from not inhaling your food as soon as it’s set down are crazy. Foodstagramming can even be used as a tool in recovering from an eating disorder, which alone is reason enough to support it.

Don’t let anyone shame you for getting the lighting in your photo just right, and ignore any dirty glances from strangers or eye rolls from your waiter because foodstagrammers have more fun. Now go forth and live a tastier life.

foodstagramming

GIF courtesy of giphy.com