Recently, I stumbled upon a Wall Street Journal piece titled “Here’s Why You Should Pay Your Kids to Eat Their Vegetables.” As the mom of a notoriously picky eater, my instinct was to think, “Finally, a solution!” The article discusses a study from the Journal of Health Economics that tested incentive programs in elementary schools to encourage kids to munch on more fruits and veggies. A whopping 8,000 kids from 40 schools participated, and if they managed to eat at least one fruit or vegetable at lunch, they scored a 25-cent token redeemable for goodies at the school store, carnival, or book fair.
Now, let’s be real: kids could choose a fruit or a veggie to earn that token. What are the odds they’d opt for anything other than apples and peaches? My selective eater would definitely grab the sweetest options. Sure, fruits are nutritious, but if veggies are easily ignored, what’s the point?
The researchers insist their plan worked, with a significant uptick in fruit and veggie consumption during the program and even for two months after it wrapped up. They argue that offering small incentives can lead to healthier eating habits. They also proposed that peer pressure (the good kind) and exposure to these foods could help kids develop a liking for them.
Two months of sustainable change sounds great! But I’d be curious to check in six months or a year later to see if those kids are still chowing down on fruits and veggies. I suspect the answer would be a resounding “No.”
I might come off as a skeptic, but as a parent, I prefer to keep it real about the challenges of promoting healthy eating. I don’t believe that simply handing out quarters will magically turn my kids into veggie lovers for life.
I’ll admit, I do bribe my kids sometimes—yes, even with candy (gasp!)—but that’s usually in a pinch when I need my toddler to get his shoes on so we’re not late for school. However, when it comes to instilling long-term healthy eating habits, bribery isn’t the way to go.
The study wasn’t suggesting I should pay my kids to eat veggies forever. The goal is to help them form a habit, so they naturally grow to enjoy them. But I doubt this veggie love affair would last as long as the researchers claim. Plus, I don’t want my kids to associate healthy eating with financial incentives.
Yes, I want my kids to be healthy, and I can’t let them survive on goldfish crackers alone (which, believe me, they’d try if given the chance!). But introducing money into the equation sends a message that there’s always a reward for making good choices. What happens when that incentive runs out? Or loses its charm?
I think incentive programs might work better in schools, where such systems are commonplace. Kids can compartmentalize their school and home lives, and striving for a reward among their peers feels different than getting a quarter from Mom for eating “yucky” broccoli.
That said, I still face daily battles getting my kids to eat well. My picky son used to live on carbs, chicken nuggets, and a scant bite of broccoli here and there (yes, it’s impressive he even tolerated broccoli). We had the classic rule: “No dessert until you eat your veggies.” Sure, that sounds like a bribe too, but at least it’s logical—fill up on something good before indulging in the sweet stuff (which usually consists of a square of chocolate or some fruit gummies).
Fast forward to almost 10 years later, and I’m pleased to report that my once-vegetable-averse son now requests veggies from time to time. Sure, it’s still only about three types he’ll actually eat, but it’s a step in the right direction. Better to have him develop a genuine love for vegetables over a decade than to resort to cash incentives.
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Summary
A mother shares her thoughts on the idea of paying kids to eat vegetables, reflecting on the challenges of promoting healthy eating habits without relying on bribery. She believes that genuine appreciation for healthy foods should develop naturally over time, rather than through financial incentives.