B. Wansink

The Impact of Vision on Flavor Perception

Novel methods for testing olfactory and visual interactions were devised. Visual stimuli were the outlines of cherries and a banana; olfactory stimuli were benzaldehyde and isoamyl acetate. Perithreshold detection levels for visual stimuli and olfactory stimuli were calculated. An olfactory task (OF) and visual task (VF) were tested. The OF task required panelists to perform an odor task while viewing an image; the VF task required panelists to perform a visual task while sniffing an odor. No significant changes in detection sensitivity were found in either the OF or VF tasks when either the visual or olfactory stimuli were congruent or incongruent.

Total Lunchroom Makeovers: Using the Principles of Asymmetric Paternalism to Address New School Lunchroom Guidelines

A key goal of the Healthy, Hungry-Free Kids Act of 2010 is to ensure that children have access to healthy foods in schools. While the new policy mandates that healthy items must be included on the lunch line—and even that children must take certain foods—there is concern both over whether children will choose to eat the healthier fare, and what the ultimate cost may be to schools that comply. We propose a series of behavioral nudges–the total lunchroom makeover–that may help lead children to make healthier choices at little cost the schools in accordance with the goals of the new legislation.. We report the results from a field experiment in which a series of nudges lead to significant increases in the consumption of fruits and vegetables—a substantive step in the right direction.