A team of researchers from the University of Southampton has scrutinized supermarket strategies to encourage consumers to choose unhe althy foods. Shops use a number of procedures that realistically translate into customer purchasing decisions. How not to be fooled?
Various solutions used in stores aimed at increasing sales effectively make it difficult to stick to the principles of he althy eating. Placing sweet treats such as sweets and chocolate bars at checkouts and at the end of nearby alleys encourages people to buy more of these unhe althy foods. The authors of the study emphasize that poor food choices can lead to obesity and cardiovascular disease, which underlines the importance of the topic they raised.
The lead authors of the study, Dr. Christina Vogel and Dr. Janis Baird, conducted their study in collaboration with the British supermarket chain Iceland Foods Ltd. Selected stores in England were monitored for sales, purchasing and eating patterns.
First of all, it has been observed that products placed near the entrance to the store, at the ends of aisles and at checkouts are visible and easily accessible to customers, which means that placing products in these places leads to more sales.
Christina Vogel's team took these discoveries and applied them to increase their he althy food purchases. Sweets available at checkouts and those at the ends of opposite aisles have been removed and replaced with water and non-food items. They also enlarged the fruit and vegetable department and moved it closer to the entrance to the store.
With these changes, it was found that store-wide candy sales fell while fruit and vegetable sales increased. Ultimately, these changes led to the fact that about 1500 fewer portions of sweets were bought in each store per week.
Interestingly, the changes contributed to the fact that each week, almost 10,000 purchases were made in each of the monitored stores. more servings of fruits and vegetables. There has also been an improvement in the individual quality of people's diet.
How to make he althy food choices? Here are some ways
Matthew Black, a dietitian at the Wexner Medical Center at Ohio State University, explains that there are manyways to avoid being fooled by the supermarket tricks.
- Use smartphone applications
There are a number of apps that are proving to be helpful in making better food choices. Including evaluate products based on criteria such as he alth and fitness goals or specific food preferences, such as vegetarian or gluten-free.
- Always make a shopping list
It's best to create a shopping list based on your meal plan. Proper planning prevents impulse purchases. You can do this once a week, for example.
- Take advantage of the meal planning service
It's not easy to choose an appropriate and balanced nutritional plan on your own. If you need extra help planning your meals, a professional, such as a dietitian, can help you prepare a plan of nutritious and nutritious meals. You will also gain recipes or ready-made shopping lists, which will save you time.
- Don't go shopping hungry
The authors of the study emphasize that shopping on an empty stomach can lead to buying food that you haven't planned just because it looks attractive at the moment. Have a snack before going to the grocery store to prevent this from happening.
- Consider shopping online
Online shopping reduces the risk of being tempted by mouth-watering views or the smells of unhe althy products.
Author
Marcelina Dzięciołowska Editor for many years associated with the medical industry. He specializes in he alth and an active lifestyle. A private passion for psychology inspires her to take up difficult topics in this field. Author of a series of interviews in the field of psycho-oncology, the aim of which is to build awareness and break stereotypes about cancer. He believes that the right mental attitude can work wonders, therefore he promotes professional knowledge based on consultations with specialists.