3 Steps May Boost Healthier Eating
THURSDAY, May 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- To succeed at the diet game, new research suggests a "CAN"-do attitude may be more helpful than relying on willpower or education.
After reviewing more than 100 studies, Cornell University researchers found three things help people choose healthier foods. The food must be convenient (C), attractive (A) and normal (N), or CAN.
The research, published in the May issue of Psychology & Marketing, suggests that the CAN approach is more effective than telling people what they can't eat or asking them to rely on willpower to resist tempting foods, the study authors said.
"Willpower works for some, but only about 5 to 10 percent of the population," said lead researcher Brian Wansink, who is director of Cornell's Food and Brand Lab. "About 95 percent of diets fail."
A typical person makes upwards of 200 food-related decisions a day, according to the study. That means the majority of food decisions are quick and instinctive.
Most people don't have time to sit and analyze what they are eating and whether or not they are full. Instead, people need to rearrange their environment so that it works for them, Wansink said.
The CAN approach arranges the environment to help people be more successful at choosing healthier food options, he said.
Penny Kris-Etherton, a registered dietician and professor of nutrition at Penn State University, agrees. "From a practical perspective, the recommendation to make healthier foods easiest to choose and consume is right on target," she said. "This is what we need to do to make healthy eating simple and the default choice, so that it is difficult to eat unhealthfully."
So how do you put the principles of CAN into practice? First, make nutritious food choices convenient. At home, for instance, Wansink suggests placing a fruit bowl within two feet of where people walk by it. And have at least two options available -- apples and bananas, for example.
The researchers also suggested keeping the fruit bowl near your car keys. That way, you might remember to grab an apple or other fruit as you head out the door. Later, you'll have a healthy and convenient option if you get hungry while you're out.
3 Steps May Boost Healthier Eating
Make nutritious foods convenient, attractive and normal, research suggests
After reviewing more than 100 studies, Cornell University researchers found three things help people choose healthier foods. The food must be convenient (C), attractive (A) and normal (N), or CAN.
The research, published in the May issue of Psychology & Marketing, suggests that the CAN approach is more effective than telling people what they can't eat or asking them to rely on willpower to resist tempting foods, the study authors said.
"Willpower works for some, but only about 5 to 10 percent of the population," said lead researcher Brian Wansink, who is director of Cornell's Food and Brand Lab. "About 95 percent of diets fail."
A typical person makes upwards of 200 food-related decisions a day, according to the study. That means the majority of food decisions are quick and instinctive.
Most people don't have time to sit and analyze what they are eating and whether or not they are full. Instead, people need to rearrange their environment so that it works for them, Wansink said.
The CAN approach arranges the environment to help people be more successful at choosing healthier food options, he said.
Penny Kris-Etherton, a registered dietician and professor of nutrition at Penn State University, agrees. "From a practical perspective, the recommendation to make healthier foods easiest to choose and consume is right on target," she said. "This is what we need to do to make healthy eating simple and the default choice, so that it is difficult to eat unhealthfully."
So how do you put the principles of CAN into practice? First, make nutritious food choices convenient. At home, for instance, Wansink suggests placing a fruit bowl within two feet of where people walk by it. And have at least two options available -- apples and bananas, for example.
The researchers also suggested keeping the fruit bowl near your car keys. That way, you might remember to grab an apple or other fruit as you head out the door. Later, you'll have a healthy and convenient option if you get hungry while you're out.