Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2026
07:07
Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice
Published on: June 5, 2016
Substituting snacks with strawberries and Sudokus: does restraint matter?
Janneke C A H Giesen1, Remco C Havermans, Anita Jansen
1Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, the Netherlands. janneke.giesen@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Summary
Both fruits/vegetables and sedentary activities can substitute for high-calorie snacks when they become harder to get. Highly restrained eaters, however, show a stronger preference for snacks.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral economics
- Dietary psychology
- Food science
Background:
- High-calorie snack foods are often substituted with healthier options like fruits/vegetables or sedentary activities when snack acquisition costs increase.
- Individual differences in dietary restraint may influence these substitution patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if fruits/vegetables are superior substitutes for snacks compared to sedentary activities.
- To investigate the role of individual differences in dietary restraint on snack substitution behaviors.
Main Methods:
- A concurrent schedules task was employed with 59 participants.
- Participants simultaneously chose between fruits/vegetables, sedentary activities, and high-calorie snacks.
- Snack acquisition costs (response requirements) progressively increased, and dietary restraint was assessed post-task.
Main Results:
- Participants increased their engagement with both fruits/vegetables and sedentary activities as snack availability decreased.
- No significant differences in substitution patterns were observed based on dietary restraint levels.
- Individuals with high dietary restraint demonstrated a greater tendency to work for snacks compared to those with low dietary restraint.
Conclusions:
- Fruits/vegetables and sedentary activities serve as equally effective substitutes for high-calorie snacks.
- High-calorie snacks possess a stronger reinforcing value for individuals with high dietary restraint.
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