How to get your kids to eat healthier by asking one simple question

This one goes out to all the moms and dads out there who cook and prepare dinner for their kids after a long day.

HOLD UP! To all you who don't have kids to cook for you can still learn a lot from this post.

Let's get to it...

I was talking with a client last week and she asked me if I had any simple ways to get her kids to eat healthier because a) she wants them to eat healthfully b) she's tired of being a short order cook and preparing 2,424,234 different meals every night and c) her kids food is really tempting her.

I'm fascinated and obsessed with the intersection of food psychology, behavioral economics and behavioral change so I suggested a simple nudge for her, and it's working wonders.

Here it is:

Let's say you want your kids to eat carrots as a snack instead of say, cookies. So...you suggest carrots, right? It turns out, 80% of kids will say no.

But what happens when you ask them if they'd rather celery or carrots? It turns out, 80% + will choose carrots because they're sweeter than celery!

The perception of choice is fascinating, and it can get your kids to do things you never thought possible. Based on how you ask questions, and the choices we give, the results are dramatically different.

I know kids can be a pain in the butt sometimes (guilty!), so you can use this in many areas of their lives in order to get them to take the actions you really want them to take. And that means you'll be less stressed which is always a wonderful thing!

The perception of choice is very powerful.

For example:

Would you rather read the newspaper or finish your homework?

Would you rather play outside or help me clean out the closet?

Would you rather eat turkey meatloaf or salmon?

Would you rather clean up the table after we finish dinner or do the dishes?

Would you rather have grapes or an orange for dessert?

The reason why this is so effective is because of the autonomy it creates. Every child whether they're a grown up or a toddler - likes to feel in control. This is also why I'm so against weight loss methods and systems that require you to eat their bars or food or have exact meals planned out for you.

Sure, it might work in the short term but it's not changing your behaviors and reactions to food which means it's just another short term fix.

Try this! And let me know if you have any success with it. I love hearing how simple nudges like this work out.

:)

-Adam

P.S. What would happen if carrots were rebranded as junk food?

P.P.S. What would happen if you had an expert with you day in and day out making sure you're actually sticking with it?