Gently guiding them to eat more nutritious food can result in healthier diets

In the face of social-distancing laws and a significant increase of people in need – according to an estimate, these organizations were able to serve more people by 55% in the majority of the time, customers were given prepackaged bags or boxes of food instead of being allowed to choose from the shelves themselves in the days prior to the outbreak.

It was among the variety of changes that food pantries and food banks made in the year 2020. These adaptations also included drive-thru service and increased delivery options for meals.

The contents of the prepackaged bags varied from place depending on the venue and the person who assembled the bags. This meant that there was an enormous variance regarding the caliber of the food that was being served and whether or not they were stocked with the type of food customers were looking for.

Food banks are turning to packaged items for delivery to provide a secure, efficient method of delivery. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Food Bank For New York City

As experts in eating habits and weight loss, We know the crucial role that food choices play for people who use food pantries and the necessity of encouraging healthier alternatives. The people who depend upon food banks are more vulnerable to illnesses related to diet, like hypertension and diabetes, but many want to consume more fresh fruit and vegetables.

We are currently researching the charitable food system, with the potential to help promote healthful living through strategies such as behavior economics that employs “nudges” to encourage behavior shifts.

Our previous research has shown that people seek out healthy food that can be put together into healthy meals when they go to food pantries. In a survey conducted in 2019 of more than 200 pantries for food and over five thousand of their customers in Minnesota and Minnesota, the most wanted categories of food were everything healthy that forms the foundation of our American diets, such as meat, fresh fruits, and vegetable eggs, dairy products, and other common ingredients such as the flour, spices and. In fact, nearly 90% of the clients stated that they’d like the freshest fruits and veggies.

However, the majority of those surveyed believed that fresh vegetables and fruits were readily available in their local food pantry on every visit. The demand for healthier food has been evident in numerous studies across different U.S. areas, too.

Another major finding of the Minnesota survey was that the people who go to food pantries put an enormous importance on their food choices. They claimed that this was greater than having decent waiting times and being greeted by volunteers.

Since consumers really want nutritious food choices, it is logical that food pantries assist clients in making healthier decisions. This is why it is essential to ensure that food pantries are stocked with an ongoing supply of fresh and healthy food. It is also necessary to display food in a way that is attractive and easily accessible to the public.

This is the place where behavioral economics can help in guiding people who use food pantries to healthier options for food.

Changing behaviors

Behavioral economics is based on the way individuals make their decisions through restructuring environments to facilitate certain choices. For instance, grocery carts have increased in size as time has passed in order to encourage shoppers to purchase more food. The reasoning behind bigger carts is that fewer people are likely to walk into the checkout in a coach that is empty and thus buy more items.

Strategies for Behavioral Economics are utilized frequently in grocery stores, but they’re an excellent choice for food pantries because of various reasons. Many of the methods used in behavioral economics can be used in conjunction with the manner in which food pantries operate. Food pantries are able to be flexible in determining the default choices for their clients. This could mean providing bags of produce as a default and then providing the cakes that are still in their day upon the request of the customer instead of displaying them in front of the door.

Additionally, unlike other food retailers, which are nonprofits, food pantries don’t depend on advertisements by food distributors for income. Food pantries are not under any obligation, such as to place soda on display as they do in some supermarkets. They also have the option to change their layout and the items on display in order to help customers make healthier choices.

Food pantries that are beginning to employ behavioral economics in order to encourage healthier lifestyles are gaining outcomes. Research conducted in Utah, Minnesota, and New York has revealed the likelihood of people consuming more nutritious foods from food pantries if they’re offered a nudge.