Recently, I stumbled upon an article in the Wall Street Journal titled “Here’s Why You Should Pay Your Kids to Eat Their Vegetables.” As a mom of a notoriously picky eater, I thought, “Maybe this is the solution I’ve been searching for!” The piece referenced a study from the Journal of Health Economics that looked into incentive programs in elementary schools aimed at encouraging kids to consume more fruits and vegetables. Approximately 8,000 students from 40 schools participated, and those who managed to eat at least one fruit or vegetable during lunch were rewarded with a 25-cent token redeemable at the school store or during events like carnivals and book fairs.
It’s interesting to note that the kids could choose either a fruit or a vegetable for the token. I can guess that most kids opted for apples or peaches rather than broccoli or carrots. My own picky eater would certainly select the sweeter options if given the choice. While fruits are nutritious, if kids can easily dodge vegetables, what’s the point?
The researchers claimed their plan was a success, showing a notable increase in fruit and vegetable consumption during the program and even for two months following its conclusion. They suggested that the incentives created lasting changes, possibly due to peer pressure and the idea that regularly eating these foods can alter a child’s palate, leading to a craving for healthier options.
But, let’s be honest. I would love to check back with those schools six months or a year later to see if the kids are still munching on those veggies. My gut feeling says they’re not. Perhaps that makes me a skeptic, but as a parent, I’m just trying to navigate the reality of getting kids to eat healthily. I don’t believe it’s as straightforward as handing them a quarter and expecting them to develop a lifelong love for vegetables.
I won’t deny that I sometimes use bribes to get my kids to do things—sometimes it’s cash, sometimes it’s candy (I know, shocking!). But those moments are for urgent situations, like getting my toddler to put on his shoes quickly so we can pick up his sibling on time. However, when it comes to instilling lasting habits around healthy eating, I don’t think bribery is the answer. The study’s intention wasn’t to suggest that parents should pay their children indefinitely to eat vegetables. The goal was to help kids form a habit of eating fruits and veggies, which might lead to them genuinely enjoying healthier foods. But I can’t help but doubt that a love for vegetables would last as long as they propose, nor do I want my children to connect healthy eating with being bribed.
I absolutely want my kids to be healthy, and that must outweigh their pickiness. I can’t let them survive on Goldfish crackers alone (though they would if given the chance). However, introducing money into the equation feels wrong. What message would that send? Plus, this pay-per-vegetable model isn’t sustainable in the long run. What happens when the novelty wears off? Or if they lose interest? I would inadvertently teach them that healthy choices come with a price tag and that the only way to motivate them is through cash incentives—a notion I’m not willing to endorse.
In a school setting, perhaps these incentive programs can work better, as students are accustomed to reward systems. Kids can distinguish between their school and home lives, and wanting a reward similar to their peers differs from receiving money from their parents for eating “yucky” broccoli at home.
That said, I still face challenges when it comes to ensuring my kids eat well. My picky son spent years subsisting primarily on bread, occasional nuggets, and a few bites of broccoli here and there—yes, it’s remarkable that he even tolerated broccoli, but that was literally the only green food he’d consume. Our household rule has been: “No dessert until you eat your vegetables.” While that may sound like bribery, at least it has a logical basis: you can’t fill up on junk unless you first nourish your body with something good. (Desserts here are typically uncomplicated—think a square of chocolate or some fruit gummies.)
Fast forward to now, and my almost 10-year-old, who once rejected vegetables, occasionally requests them. True, he only eats about three kinds, but the fact that he genuinely wants to try them is a win in my book. It might have taken a decade instead of a quick three weeks, but I’d much rather my son develop a natural affinity for vegetables than feel like he’s being paid to eat them.
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In summary, while incentivizing kids to eat vegetables may yield short-term results, I believe the focus should be on fostering a genuine appreciation for healthy foods rather than relying on monetary rewards.
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