How to get kids to eat their veggies

Uncertainty vs choice freedom

We all want more control in life. We, as humans, don’t like uncertainty. That is why we all think we enjoy the freedom of choice. We believe that it will make us happier if we have control over our decisions. But behavioural research revealed that it doesn’t work like this.

‘More choice often leads to more doubt, less satisfaction and worse decision making‘.

Practical examples

Do you have children yourself? Then you probably have problems with getting them to eat vegetables. That’s why it’s time to start using behavioural design. What we often say is: ‘eat your peas’. But it is better to formulate the option to eat vegetables differently. Make your kids feel like they have control over what they eat by saying, “Would you like to eat your carrots or peas first?” As a result, you have given them an option while giving them so little autonomy that they have to eat vegetables anyway.

You can also apply this during salary negotiations as an employer. Often it comes down to the employee wanting a higher salary. How can you give them options without paying the highest price yourself? You can do this, for example, by offering a higher salary but attaching a condition to this. For example, include fewer days off in the contract.

So start using limited options to give people a sense of control and promote the desired behaviour unconsciously.