The Hindu Business Line : Nudge yourself to eat healthy

All of us frequent restaurants. But have you ever wondered why restaurants have dim lights? Behavioural economics can throw some light on the subject! How?

You may have heard about Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein and their book Nudge. Nudge, according to Thaler, is a small feature of the environment that captures our attention and alters our behaviour.

Dim lights in restaurants can be a nudge! Research shows that such lights can make us eat more. It is also argued that we eat more if the lighting is very bright! If you and I can be nudged to eat more, can we be nudged to eat healthy food?

Catching your attention

Suppose you are attending a small party. On the dining table, you see some mouth-watering desserts and colourful cut fruits. Which would you prefer?

If you want to choose fruits but end up eating the dessert, do not be too hard on yourself. You were, perhaps, nudged to eat the dessert. You can just as well be nudged to eat the fruit. How?

Experiments have shown that if the fruit bowl is elevated and is kept in such a way as to catch your attention, you will head for the health platter. Remember, nudge is about catching your attention. Sometimes, a printed card on the dining table that states that the average Indian eats more fruits can nudge you towards the colourful platter! The reason is because we like to stick to averages.

Build on positive nudges

It is important that our host does not offer only fruits. If that were so, you and I will be heading for another place that provides sinful desserts.

Nudge instead allows you to make your own decision. Renaming carrots as X-ray vision carrots allows you to savour the richness and nudges you to choose vegetable over a more-tasty less-healthy food that is also available at the table.

We can choose to nudge ourselves to health at home. You can, perhaps, start using small plates that make normal portions look large. And then build on such positive nudges. Healthy eating.

(The author is an investment strategist. blfeedback@thehindu.co.in)

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