This article describes two studies on how attractive naming can be implemented in schools to encourage healthier eating in a cost-effective and scalable way. In Study 1, researchers found that children ate more of their carrots when the carrots were named “X-ray Vision Carrots” than when they were named “Food of the Day” or unnamed. In Study 2, researchers found that elementary students were more likely to take a hot vegetable when they were given fun or attractive names. In combination, these studies demonstrated that using an attractive name to describe a healthy food effectively and persistently increased healthy food consumption in elementary schools cafeterias, and that an attractive name intervention is scalable for little to no cost.
Published: October 2012
ID #: 63148
Journal: Prev Med
Authors: Wansink B, Just DR, Payne CR, Klinger MZ
Age Group: Elementary-age children (grades K to 5)
Focus Areas: Food Marketing, School & After School
Keywords: Food service, Fruits and vegetables
Resource Type: Journal Article
Race/Ethnicity: Multi-racial/ethnic
State: New York
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