In the battle against picky eaters, parents and caregivers are always on the lookout for innovative strategies to get children to consume more fruits & vegetables. One surprisingly effective approach? Using cartoon characters to promote healthy eating habits.
JUST SALAD x SESAME STREET
Beginning in March, which is National Nutrition Month, customers of Just Salad can choose from a lineup of favorite friends – including Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Oscar the Grouch. “Embracing the fun and playfulness that Sesame Street has brought to generations of children, Just Salad’s Kids Menu offers an array of meals inspired by fan-favorite characters from the show, designed to captivate young palates while providing wholesome nutrition.” Read the press release here.
STICKYLICKITS
StickyLickits are Stickers You Can Eat! You just, Lick it, Stick it on fruits and vegetables, and then eat! StickyLickits has a huge variety of stickers.
StickyLickits’ mission is to get kids to eat more fruits and vegetables and to make them more adventurous eaters.
This unique idea was born out of a Grandmother’s experience with a study that was done by Dr. Francine Kaufman for the NIH on childhood obesity which concluded that, “children born after 2000 will have a shorter lifespan than their parents due to poor lifestyle choices of food and lack of movement.” The main recommendation that came from the study was that the most effective thing that parents could do would be to get their children to eat more fruits and vegetables.
StickyLickits became the solution to what Grandmother (and founder), Linda S. York, saw as the “#1” Problem, How do you persuade kids to eat more fruits and vegetables without kitchen table battles, bribery, and frustration by parents and kids? StickyLickits! That’s how.
The Research Behind the Strategy
Studies have shown that children are significantly more likely to choose fruits and vegetables if their favorite cartoon characters are featured on the packaging or even directly on the produce. One study published in the journal Pediatrics found that children were nearly twice as likely to choose apples over cookies when the apples had a sticker of a popular cartoon character on them. This phenomenon taps into the natural affinity children have for familiar and beloved characters, leveraging that attachment to make healthier food choices more appealing.
Why It Works
- Familiarity and Trust: Children tend to trust and feel comfortable with characters they see regularly in their favorite shows. When these characters endorse fruits and vegetables, it creates a sense of familiarity and trust around the food items, making them more appealing.
- Visual Appeal: Brightly colored packaging and fun designs capture children’s attention. Adding a favorite character to the mix enhances this appeal, making fruits and vegetables stand out in a positive light amidst other less healthy options.
- Role Modeling: Characters that children look up to can influence their behavior. When these characters are associated with healthy foods, children are more likely to want to emulate their eating habits.
Practical Applications for Parents and Caregivers
- Character Stickers: Invest in stickers of popular characters that your children love and place them on fruits and vegetables. This simple trick can make a significant difference in their willingness to eat these foods.
- Themed Meals and Snacks: Create themed meals or snacks around a beloved character. For example, a “Superhero Salad” with a sticker of a superhero on the container can make the meal more exciting and appealing.
- Media Integration: Leverage television shows, books, and games that feature characters promoting healthy eating. Many children’s shows have episodes focused on healthy habits, which can reinforce positive messages about eating fruits and vegetables.
- Character-Branded Products: Choose fruits and vegetables that come with character branding. Many grocery stores now offer produce with stickers or packaging featuring popular characters, making it easier to implement this strategy.
