Effects of a Behavioral Economics Intervention on Food Choice and Food Consumption in Middle-School and High-School Cafeterias
ORIGINAL RESEARCH — Volume 15 — July 5, 2018
PEER REVIEWED
Pictures show strategies implemented in intervention schools. The first photo shows container displays, and the second photo shows samples of sliced fruit and signage.
Figure 1.
Displays from a behavioral economics intervention on the effects on food choices and food consumption in middle-school and high-school cafeterias, King County, Washington, 2013–2014.
Figure 2.
Number of kitchen managers (N = 6) in intervention schools who tried 13 behavioral economics strategies, intervention on effects on food choices and food consumption in middle-school and high-school cafeterias, King County, Washington, 2013–2014.
| Behavioral Economics Strategy | No. of Managers Who Tried Strategy |
|---|---|
| Create grab and go meals | 0 |
| Highlight healthy foods through labels, signs, or stickers | 1 |
| Establish a made-to-order salad bar | 2 |
| Display milk in front of/on top of chocolate milk | 2 |
| Display fruits and vegetables multiple times in a lunch line | 3 |
| Work with others in school to promote school meals | 3 |
| Conduct taste tests for new foods | 3 |
| Staff use verbal prompts for healthy foods | 3 |
| Create new line layouts | 3 |
| Offer sliced fruit | 3 |
| Give food items creative names | 4 |
| Create posters/signage promoting particular healthy foods | 5 |
| Display fruits and vegetables in attractive ways | 6 |
The opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors’ affiliated institutions.