Recently, I stumbled upon a Wall Street Journal article titled “Here’s Why You Should Pay Your Kids to Eat Their Vegetables.” As a parent of a notoriously picky eater, my initial thought was, “Finally, a solution!” The article discusses a study from the Journal of Health Economics that implemented incentive programs in elementary schools, encouraging kids to munch on more fruits and veggies. A whopping 8,000 kids from 40 schools participated, earning a 25-cent token for each fruit or vegetable they consumed at lunch, redeemable for prizes at the school store or carnival.
Interestingly, the kids had the option to choose either a fruit or a vegetable to earn their token. I can almost guarantee that most kids gravitated toward apples and peaches! My picky kid would definitely opt for the sweet stuff, and while fruit is nutritious, if veggies are so easily bypassed, what’s the point?
The researchers claim that their initiative was successful, not just for the short duration of the program, but even two months after it ended. They noted a significant increase in fruit and vegetable consumption during the incentive period, suggesting that small rewards can create lasting change. They posited that peer pressure and the exposure to new flavors could eventually lead kids to enjoy these foods more.
Sounds promising, right? But I’d love to check back in six months or a year to see if those kids are still chowing down on veggies. I suspect that the answer would be a resounding NO.
Now, I might sound skeptical, but as a parent, I prefer to keep it real, especially when it comes to encouraging healthy eating. I just don’t believe that tossing a quarter at my kids will magically instill a lifelong love of vegetables.
I’ll admit, I’ve bribed my kids before — with money and even candy (gasp!). But that’s usually a quick fix, like getting my toddler to put on his shoes so we can make it to school on time. When it comes to instilling healthy habits long-term, bribery isn’t the answer. The goal of the study isn’t to suggest that you’ll need to pay your kids forever, but I worry that if I introduce money into the mix, I’d be sending the message that healthy eating is only worthwhile when there’s a reward involved.
Sure, I want my kids to be healthy, and I can’t let them subsist solely on goldfish crackers (which they would do if given the chance). But if I start offering cash for eating veggies, what happens when the novelty wears off? Or worse, what if they start to think that good choices only come with a price tag?
In a school setting, these incentive programs might work better. Kids often differentiate between school and home environments. The allure of earning a reward among classmates is different from receiving a quarter from parents for dining on “yucky” broccoli.
Trust me, feeding my kids well is still a challenge. My picky son spent years surviving on bread, a few nuggets, and the occasional bite of broccoli (yes, it’s remarkable that he even tolerated broccoli). We had a pretty standard rule: “No dessert unless you eat your vegetables.” While it sounds like bribery, it’s more about logic: you can’t fill up on junk before consuming something nutritious.
I’m thrilled to report that now, at nearly 10 years old, my vegetable-refusing son occasionally asks for veggies! Sure, there are only about three he’ll eat, but he genuinely wants them. It may have taken a decade instead of a quick three weeks, but I’d much rather he develop an appreciation for vegetables on his own rather than through monetary incentives.
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In summary, while paying kids to eat their veggies may show some short-term success, I believe fostering a genuine love for healthy foods is a more sustainable and meaningful approach.