Happy meal got it right
The secret to happiness and the possible cure to obesity lie inside, well, a Happy Meal.
Researchers found out that giving small prizes with meals encourage kids (and adults) to eat smaller meals.
In a series of experiments, the researchers found that the majority of children and adults chose a half-sized portion paired with a toy or monetary prize over a full-sized portion without a toy or monetary prize. The price of the two options was kept the same. Brain scans reveal that the brain responds the similarly to the full meal and the half meal plus toy combo.
Even just the chance of winning a prize is good enough. Researchers found that people were more likely to choose a smaller meal for the chance to win a $10 lottery than to get a guaranteed reward. Researchers imply that the “thrill of winning” is emotionally rewarding in itself.
MacInnis, Reimann and Bechara wrote that these findings imply that individuals can reward themselves for eating less food with nonfood items. “This substitution of rewards assists consumers in staying happy and satisfied,” they said.
Individuals could also celebrate other achievements, like a job promotion, with something other than food and still be happy.
“Similarly, we recommend that parents could reward and, thus, reinforce their children’s achievements with nonfood incentives, even uncertain ones, rather than with food,” the authors wrote. “As such, parents lessen the likelihood of linking good behavior to food intake, but instead link good behavior to the receipt of a nonfood incentive and, thus, avoid overeating.”
The study was a collaboration between University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management as well as the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business and Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Category: Features, Wellness and Complementary Therapies
