A lot of people think losing weight is a simple matter of pushing away from the table. But those of us who’ve had a lifelong battle with our bellies know it’s not that simple. We try diets but end up feeling deprived in a world of riches. We try to exercise but never seem to find the time. We try to eat healthier but find our budgets just don’t extend far enough. We try acupuncture, hypnosis, support groups, and even surgery. Sometimes these things work. Most of the time they don’t.
But I support whatever works for you. Recently, I saw this little story about a way to trick people into buying more healthy food.
Divide Your Cart In Sections
Researchers used a strip of duct tape to make a line through the middle of the shopping cart with a little sign suggesting that the section be used for only fruits and vegetables. They found that shoppers using those carts bought more fruits and vegetables than those who had regular carts. The researchers found that there was no difference in the overall amount spent on food between the different cart users.
In other words, just dividing your cart into sections helps you buy better food. However, we do NOT recommend you take a roll of duct tape with you to section your cart. Fortunately, there are products that can help with that.
Beware The Corporate Takeover
Research shows that we can trick ourselves into better buying habits if we want to. But they also raise a nightmare scenario. That could lessen the impact if such an approach were developed in grocery stores. Instead of a sign designating fresh produce, it could just as easily recommend filling the section with processed foods and soda.
We want to know what you do to keep yourself from buying junk food. Did you change your tastes or did you join a group? Did you set up an eating plan or latch on to one particular diet? Please feel free to leave comments below.
