Incentivizing dietary choices among children: Review of experimental evidence

This article reviews recent evidence on the effectiveness of using small monetary and non-monetary incentives to encourage children to choose healthier foods. We discuss the rationale for using such incentives from the perspective of behavioral economics, and discuss the controversial aspects of such interventions. In reviewing the evidence, we compare key parameters of incentives schemes, such as their nature (monetary or not), the frequency at which they are given and how long they are in place. Overall, we find the evidence for using incentives encouraging, even if there is little evidence they succeed in permanently changing dietary habits. They are nevertheless very effective in changing behavior in the short run.