Feeding Strategies Derived from Behavioral Economics and Psychology Can Increase Vegetable Intake in Children as Part of a Home-Based Intervention: Results of a Pilot Study

Abstract Background Behavioral economics and psychology have been applied to altering food choice, but most studies have not measured food intake under free-living conditions. Objectives To test the effects of a strategy that pairs positive stimuli (ie, stickers and cartoon packaging) with vegetable...

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Published in:Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 2015-11, Vol.115 (11), p.1798-1807
Main Authors: Cravener, Terri L., MS, Schlechter, Haley, Loeb, Katharine L., PhD, Radnitz, Cynthia, PhD, Schwartz, Marlene, PhD, Zucker, Nancy, PhD, Finkelstein, Stacey, PhD, Wang, Y. Claire, MD, ScD, Rolls, Barbara J., PhD, Keller, Kathleen L., PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavioral economics
Body Mass Index
Child, Preschool
Children
Choice Behavior
Defaults
Economics, Behavioral
Energy Intake
Feeding Behavior - psychology
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Food Preferences - psychology
Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Humans
Internal Medicine
Male
Patient Compliance
Pilot Projects
Snacks
Surveys and Questionnaires
Treatment Outcome
Vegetable intake
Vegetables
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Summary:Abstract Background Behavioral economics and psychology have been applied to altering food choice, but most studies have not measured food intake under free-living conditions. Objectives To test the effects of a strategy that pairs positive stimuli (ie, stickers and cartoon packaging) with vegetables and presents them as the default snack. Design A randomized controlled trial was conducted with children who reported consumption of fewer than two servings of vegetables daily. Children (aged 3 to 5 years) in both control (n=12) and treatment (n=12) groups received a week’s supply of plainly packaged (ie, generic) vegetables, presented by parents as a free choice with an alternative snack (granola bar), during baseline (Week 1) and follow-up (Week 4). During Weeks 2 and 3, the control group continued to receive generic packages of vegetables presented as a free choice, but the treatment group received vegetables packaged in containers with favorite cartoon characters and stickers inside, presented by parents as the default choice. Children in the treatment group were allowed to opt out of the vegetables and request the granola bar after an imposed 5-minute wait. Statistical analysis General Linear Model repeated measures analysis of variance was conducted to compare vegetable and granola bar intake between control and treatment groups across the 4-week study. Both within- and between-subjects models were tested. Results A time×treatment interaction on vegetable intake was significant. The treatment group increased vegetable intake from baseline to Week 2 relative to control ( P
ISSN:2212-2672
2212-2680
DOI:10.1016/j.jand.2015.03.024