An intriguing study from Cornell University found that strategically re-positioning food in school cafeterias is a formidable strategy for encouraging healthier choices.
Healthier, more visible and more "cool" was the idea behind the strategy, which aimed to improve the eating habits of school-aged children.
These findings are the result of six different studies with more than 11,000 middle and high school students. (Source)
In one set of schools, the study found sales of fruit increased by 100 percent, when it was moved to a colorful bowl.Salad bar sales tripled when the cart was placed in front of cash registers.In other schools, creating a speedy "healthy express" checkout line for students not buying calorie-dense foods, like desserts and chips, doubled the sales of healthy sandwiches.Ice cream kept in a freezer with a closed, opaque top, significantly reduced the amount of ice cream taken.Moving chocolate milk behind plain milk increased sales of plain milk.I have to say I really like this idea - not only for schools, but in homes and offices as well. The out-of sight, out-of-mind, out-of-mouth strategy is certainly universally applicable.This study echo's the results of Brian Wansink's 2006 study, which found that office workers ate fewer candies when they were in opaque rather than clear candy jars on their desks. And, even fewer when the opaque jars were six feet away from their desks.This kind of strategy is also far more appealing than the idea of "banning" foods. People still have options, they just have to look for them.I hope they implement this kind of strategy in schools across the nation. It's certainly a very economical way to guide youth towards making healthier choices. To quote Chris Wallace, food service director for the Corning, N.Y. School District,
It's not nutrition until someone eats it. You need to have foods that kids will eat, or they won't eat -- or they'll eat worse".
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