Social psychological approaches to obesity: Using nudges and norms to get kids to eat vegetables Traci Mann, Ph.D. Professor University of Minnesota Joe Redden, Marketing Marla Reicks, Nutrition Zata Vickers, Food Science Elton Mykerezi, Applied Economics

Social psychological approaches to obesity: Using nudges and norms to get kids to eat vegetables Traci Mann, Ph.D. Professor University of Minnesota Mary Panos Samantha Cinnick Stephanie Elsbernd Nikki Miller

Vegetable Consumption Among Kids Kids eat an average of ½ serving of vegetables/day. About half of school-age kids don’t eat any vegetables in an average week

Nudge (Thaler & Sunstein, 2008)

The Cafeteria Problem: Vegetables Lose to Everything

The Cafeteria Solution: Vegetables Might Beat Nothing

Strategy: Provide Healthy Food First and Alone Intuitive Scientifically plausible – Contrast effects – Hunger makes foods look more palatable – Eating norms Repeated exposure helps – Increase liking – Change attribution

Tests of “Veggies First” Strategy Lab study Field studies – Brief cafeteria study – Extended cafeteria studies (two) Quasi-experiment: Daily life strategy Randomized trial: Daily life strategy (in progress)

Lab Study N=118 Watch two 5-minute videos Given 50 grams each of candy and carrots Given during 1 st videoAdded during 2 nd video Healthy firstCarrotsCandy Unhealthy firstCandyCarrots Both at onceCarrots and candy there the whole time

Grams Results

Grams Results

Tests of “Veggies First” Strategy Lab study Field studies – Brief cafeteria study – Extended cafeteria studies (two) Quasi-experiment: Daily life strategy Randomized trial: Daily life strategy (in progress)

Cafeteria Field Study 1 Identical meals with carrots One month apart Carrots First: Individual cups of carrots at each place at table Day 1Day 2 ControlCarrots First

% of Students Taking Carrots from Cafeteria % N=680N=755 9%

% of Students Eating from Table Cup % N=680N=755 54%

Grams of Carrots Eaten Per Student At Lunch Grams N=680N=755

Grams of Carrots Eaten Per Student At Lunch Grams N=680N=755

Questions Is this just novelty, or will it work repeatedly? Are there benefits of repeated exposure? Does eating the first vegetable reduce eating of the other? Can it transfer to schools with regular lines?

Cafeteria Field Studies 2 and 3 Study 2. Study 3. Day 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5 ControlBroccoli First Broccoli First Broccoli First Control Day 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5 ControlPeppers FirstPeppers First Peppers First Control About two weeks between each Also measure other vegetable served Regular cafeteria set-up

Questions Is this just novelty, or will it work repeatedly? Are there benefits of repeated exposure? Does eating the first vegetable reduce eating of the other? Can it transfer to schools with regular lines?

Trays Entrée Hot sideFruit Vegetable s Pay

Cafeteria Field Studies 2 and 3 Study 2. Study 3. Day 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5 ControlBroccoli First Broccoli First Broccoli First Control Day 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5 ControlPeppers FirstPeppers First Peppers First Control About two weeks between each Also measure other vegetable served Regular cafeteria set-up

How Many Kids Eat the Vegetable?

Grams Consumed per Student at Lunch From Cafeteria

Grams Consumed per Student at Lunch From Cafeteria From Cup in Hall From Cup in Hall

Grams of Other Vegetable Consumed per Student at Lunch

Tests of “Veggies First” Strategy Lab study Field studies – Brief cafeteria study – Extended cafeteria studies (two) Quasi-experiment: Daily life strategy Randomized trial: Daily life strategy (in progress)

“Veggies First” as Daily Life Strategy Quasi-Experiment n=20 students in Freshman Seminar Week 1: Record food eaten Mon-Thurs using LoseIt app Weeks 2 and 3: Use “veggies first” strategy “Week” 1“Week” 2“Week” 3 ControlVeggies First

Loseit App and Website

“Veggies First” Strategy for Daily Life “Eat a serving of vegetables by itself before eating your main meal. That means you should eat your serving of vegetables before you put any other food on your plate or tray. No other foods should be within reach when you eat your vegetable.”

“Veggies First” Strategy for Daily Life Servings of Vegetables EatenTotal Calories Consumed

“Veggies First” as Daily Life Strategy Randomized Experiment Week 1: Record food eaten using Loseit App Weeks 2-3: Continue recording food eaten Control group: No strategy given Other 2 groups: Given strategy ConditionWeek 1Weeks 2 & 3 Control Record Food “Increase Veggie Consumption” Veggies First Record Food Use Strategy: Veggies First Veggies First/ Chocolate Last Record Food Use Strategy: Veggies First/ Chocolate Last

Thank You Funders USDA Cornell Behavioral Economics and Nutrition Center Project Coordinators Stephanie Elsbernd Nikki Miller Richfield School District: Deb LaBounty

Coming April 7 from HarperCollins