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The Application of Optimal Defaults to Improve Elementary School Lunch Selections: Proof of Concept.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Loeb, KL; Radnitz, C; Keller, KL; Schwartz, MB; Zucker, N; Marcus, S; Pierson, RN; Shannon, M; DeLaurentis, D
Published in: J Sch Health
April 2018

BACKGROUND: In this study, we applied behavioral economics to optimize elementary school lunch choices via parent-driven decisions. Specifically, this experiment tested an optimal defaults paradigm, examining whether strategically manipulating the health value of a default menu could be co-opted to improve school-based lunch selections. METHODS: The design was a randomized comparison of optimal versus suboptimal (standard) default lunch menus for all first-graders in a school district for a period of 1 week. We hypothesized that making the default lunch option healthier, while providing parents the opportunity to access and choose from the standard school menu for their child, would yield more frequent selection of healthier items than when the default option was suboptimal. RESULTS: Overall, 127 (93%) first-grade children's families participated. Among those families randomized to receive the nutritionally optimized default menu, all but one remained with these options; of those parents randomized to the standard menu (suboptimal default), all parents remained with these options (Χ2 = 123.06, df = 1, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The mere positioning of choices, without restricting options, significantly affected which menu items the children received during the test period. Results are proof of concept for a strategy to increase health-promoting school lunch content, procedures, and policies.

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Published In

J Sch Health

DOI

EISSN

1746-1561

Publication Date

April 2018

Volume

88

Issue

4

Start / End Page

265 / 271

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Students
  • Schools
  • Public Health
  • Pilot Projects
  • Parents
  • Male
  • Lunch
  • Humans
  • Food Services
  • Food Preferences
 

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Loeb, K. L., Radnitz, C., Keller, K. L., Schwartz, M. B., Zucker, N., Marcus, S., … DeLaurentis, D. (2018). The Application of Optimal Defaults to Improve Elementary School Lunch Selections: Proof of Concept. J Sch Health, 88(4), 265–271. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12611
Loeb, Katharine L., Cynthia Radnitz, Kathleen L. Keller, Marlene B. Schwartz, Nancy Zucker, Sue Marcus, Richard N. Pierson, Michael Shannon, and Danielle DeLaurentis. “The Application of Optimal Defaults to Improve Elementary School Lunch Selections: Proof of Concept.J Sch Health 88, no. 4 (April 2018): 265–71. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12611.
Loeb KL, Radnitz C, Keller KL, Schwartz MB, Zucker N, Marcus S, et al. The Application of Optimal Defaults to Improve Elementary School Lunch Selections: Proof of Concept. J Sch Health. 2018 Apr;88(4):265–71.
Loeb, Katharine L., et al. “The Application of Optimal Defaults to Improve Elementary School Lunch Selections: Proof of Concept.J Sch Health, vol. 88, no. 4, Apr. 2018, pp. 265–71. Pubmed, doi:10.1111/josh.12611.
Loeb KL, Radnitz C, Keller KL, Schwartz MB, Zucker N, Marcus S, Pierson RN, Shannon M, DeLaurentis D. The Application of Optimal Defaults to Improve Elementary School Lunch Selections: Proof of Concept. J Sch Health. 2018 Apr;88(4):265–271.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Sch Health

DOI

EISSN

1746-1561

Publication Date

April 2018

Volume

88

Issue

4

Start / End Page

265 / 271

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Students
  • Schools
  • Public Health
  • Pilot Projects
  • Parents
  • Male
  • Lunch
  • Humans
  • Food Services
  • Food Preferences