May 3/Minneapolis/Mayo Clinic -- After placing sliced apples and carrots into both clear and opaque bowls within reach of their participants -- 96 college-aged students -- researchers found that they were more likely to grab the foods when they could see them clearly.

The study, published in the journal Environment & Behavior, also found that students were more likely to reach for the apples than carrots based simply on their sugar level.

For their experiment, researchers placed the bowls of sliced apples and carrots at a table about six and a half feet away. Participants watched as the food was taken out of its packaging and told that they were welcome to it.

After leaving the students alone for 10 minutes, scientists observed that the participants were more likely to reach for the foods when they were in clear bowls, compared to when they were hidden in opaque vessels.

 From the May 4, 2012, Prepared Foods’ Daily News