How to give your child a healthy taste

We humans are not purely rational beings. Although we know that some things are unhealthy, we eat them anyway, and do so again and again. There are many reasons for this behaviour.

If you set yourself the goal of a healthier diet in order to become fitter and slimmer, this can initially mean making major sacrifices without immediately feeling the positive effects. As these effects are not immediately noticeable, it often happens that we forget our resolutions in the short term and the desire for the «forbidden» is greater and wins out.

The need to obey the now and give less weight to the later is very typical and human. Enjoying a chocolate ice cream in the here and now is worth more than the slimmer line we are aiming for, which only becomes noticeable many moments later. Numerous other observations show how often we humans do not always make the most sensible decisions when viewed from the outside. This is where the term «nudging» comes into play.

Removing obstacles from the path

Nudging is about gently «nudging» or influencing people to make positive decisions for themselves or for their environment and fellow human beings or to improve their own behaviour. This should always be done without coercion, prohibitions or rules. Because as you have probably already experienced, prohibitions only make children and adults alike find what is forbidden even more exciting.

The nudging method can be used in various areas. In relation to healthy eating, it has the following aim: the decision in favour of the healthy option should be the easier decision. As many obstacles as possible should be removed so that the healthy option can be chosen without the unhealthy option being actively criticised.

It all depends on the mood

Your family can also be gently steered towards a healthy and balanced diet. Colourful dishes, which are also beautifully or playfully presented, whet the appetite for more. If the salad is served as a starter, it is more likely to be eaten than if it is served with the main course. If the dishes look varied and interesting, for example if they are served with a sauce for dipping, even the youngest family members are more likely to eat them.

Portion size also plays a decisive role. The larger the portion, the more people eat, even though they already feel full. With smaller dessert portions, you automatically serve less sugar and fat - without having to say a word about it.

It is crucial that the meals appeal to our senses.

The atmosphere during mealtimes also plays a role. If food is eaten under stress or during an argument, emotions are involved, which can strongly influence the feeling of hunger and satiety. The same applies to eating while distracted by a TV or smartphone.

If the atmosphere at the family table is relaxed and friendly, this in turn has a positive effect. This shows that quality, i.e. how and under what circumstances we eat together, is much more important than quantity, i.e. how often we eat together.

What school canteens can do

The nudging method is also used in public spaces such as schools. In the first few years of life, children's eating behaviour is strongly influenced by their own family members and their immediate environment. As soon as children go to school and no longer eat all their meals at home, the external influence increases.

With nudging tools, school canteens can specifically help children to choose the healthier, more nutritious meal. To achieve this, it is crucial that the meals appeal to our senses. They should be beautifully presented and colourfully arranged, smell pleasant and, last but not least, taste good and fresh.

Nudging can be used for various purposes

The healthier dishes can, for example, be offered as a «to go» option or at a reduced price: For example, the veggie menu costs 3 francs less - because the price can also decide whether children and especially young people decide in favour of a dish or not. The dishes to be chosen could even be placed in a better light - literally - while the other dishes are served in the usual light.

Waiting times are another important decision-making factor. Healthier food should be available quickly, without the hassle of queuing. Some of these changes are very small, some are somewhat larger, but they can all help children, young people and adults to opt for healthier food.

Nudging can and is of course also used for other purposes. Health is not always the top priority. In shops, everything is placed at the eye level of the target group at a high profit so that the products are bought more.