Getting kids to eat their vegetables is a classic parenting hurdle, but have you ever thought about actually bribing them with cash to get them to munch on their greens? Surprisingly, some research suggests that might work.
In a study from Utah State University, children were incentivized to eat fruits and veggies with both money and praise. Unsurprisingly, those who received a little cash for consuming healthy foods increased their intake by about a third of a cup more than those who were just told they did a good job. Who knew kids could be such savvy negotiators?
While the concept of paying children to eat healthily seems outrageous, researchers argue that it may encourage repetitive tasting. And guess what? The more they taste, the more they might actually start enjoying that broccoli instead of launching it across the room. Or, they could just figure out how to earn a little pocket money while still refusing to eat a carrot.
I can’t help but question if this is the best approach to tackling picky eating. Sure, convincing kids to eat can be frustrating, but should we really start paying them for basic life skills? I don’t want to sound like the parent who insists “I walked five miles in the snow to get to school,” but I vividly remember my parents leaving me at the dinner table with a stern warning that I couldn’t leave until I finished my spinach. Was it slimy? You bet! But I ate it, and now I can enjoy a salad without needing a bribe.
I don’t advocate forcing kids to eat things they genuinely dislike, but I also think it’s unwise to enable picky behavior by offering financial rewards. Maintaining a healthy diet is a vital life skill that children will need as they grow into adults. They need to cultivate internal motivation for healthy living rather than relying on external incentives that won’t last.
No one is going to follow a child into adulthood to ensure they brush their teeth or eat their daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Rewarding them for these basic necessities could lead to bigger issues down the line. If a child has significant challenges meeting their nutritional needs, parents should seek professional guidance instead of resorting to bribery. Let’s not set the precedent of paying our kids for simply staying alive!
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In summary, while it might be tempting to bribe our kids to eat their veggies, fostering a sense of internal motivation for healthy eating is ultimately the more sustainable approach. Let’s encourage our children to make healthy choices without resorting to cash incentives.