Nudging Adolescents towards Plant‐Based Foods within a School Food Environment

Abstract

With growing evidence for the health benefits of a plant‐based diet, and adolescents' diets typically marked by poor food choices, this study's objective was to evaluate the impact of changes to the choice architecture within a secondary school canteen on students' plant‐based food choices.
 A set of small changes to nudge students towards specific food items (whole fruit, fruit salad, vegetarian main meals, sandwiches containing salad) was implemented for six weeks during the academic year 2013‐14. Data (>200 000 transactions) from the cashless system employed in the school canteen enabled students' food choices (980 students) for the academic year (188 days) to be examined. Students' selections at baseline (29‐week period), intervention (6‐week period) and post‐intervention (3‐week period) were compared.
 Selection of the designated food items increased significantly during the intervention and post‐intervention periods compared to baseline (baseline 1.2%; intervention 2.9%; post‐intervention 2.2%) χ2(2)=328.18, p<0.001. Logistic regression analysis revealed the independent effect of the intervention on the uptake of these items. Controlling for student year group, free school meal entitlement (a measure of socioeconomic status), day of the week and price – students were 2.5 times more likely (p<0.001) to select the designated items during the intervention period, than at baseline. 
 Small changes to the choice architecture nudged students towards more plant‐based food choices. The results evidence the role schools and choice architecture can play in improving adolescents' dietary behavior.Grant Funding Source: Alpro Foundation