Cornell University. US: What
would happen if a fast-food restaurant reduces the calories in a
children’s meal by 104 calories, mainly by decreasing the portion size
of French fries? Would children compensate by choosing a more calorie
dense entrée or beverage? Researchers at Cornell University, Dr. Brian
Wansink and Dr. Andrew Hanks, analyzed transaction data from 30
representative McDonald’s restaurants to answer that question.Prior
to 2012, the Happy Meal® was served with one of three entrée options
(chicken nuggets, cheeseburger, hamburger), a side item (apples or small
size French fry), and a beverage (fountain beverage, white milk,
chocolate milk, apple juice). By April 2012, all restaurants in this
chain served a smaller size “kid fry” and a packet of apples with each
CMB. They found that this change in default side offerings (fewer fries
and added apple slices) resulted in 98 of the total 104-calorie decrease
in the CMB.
With such a large decrease in calories, would children
compensate by choosing a more calorie dense entrée or beverage? Wansink
and Hanks found that 99% of children ordered the same entrée, and orders
of chicken nuggets (the lowest calorie entrée) remained flat at nearly
62% of all orders. Yet, nearly 11% fewer children took caloric soda as a
beverage and 22% more chose white or chocolate milk–a more satiating
beverage. This increase was partially due to small changes in
advertising for milk. The chocolate milk served in 2012 was of the
fat-free variety compared to the 1% variety served previously and it
also contained 40 fewer calories. Overall, the substitutions in beverage
purchases resulted in 6 fewer calories served with the average CMB.Small
changes in the automatic—or default—foods offered or promoted in
children’s meals can reduce calorie intake and improve the overall
nutrition from selected foods as long as there is still an indulgence.
Importantly, balancing a meal with smaller portions of favored foods
might avoid reactance and overeating. Just as managers have done this in
restaurants, parents can do this at home.
For instance, giving a
child a piece of fruit and a smaller amount of potato chips with his or
her sandwich may be healthier than providing no indulgence at all