Rooted in routine: Fostering higher order vegetable-shopping habits using a randomised simple planning intervention

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Science
• Nutrition Psychology
• Public Health Interventions

Background:

• A healthy diet, including adequate vegetable intake (≥240g/day), is crucial for preventing negative health outcomes.
• Most individuals fail to meet recommended daily vegetable consumption targets.
• Developing sustainable dietary habits is a key challenge in public health nutrition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a one-off higher order habit intervention on vegetable shopping.
• To investigate the role of action and coping planning in forming vegetable-shopping habits.
• To examine if healthy-eater identity, intrinsic motivation, and self-efficacy mediate habit formation.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial with 198 participants (aged 20-74) allocated to an intervention or control group.
• The intervention involved a one-off higher order habit formation technique focused on vegetable shopping.
• Data on habits, psychological mechanisms, and behavior were collected at multiple follow-up points (4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months).

Main Results:

• The intervention significantly strengthened higher order habits for vegetable shopping over a 6-month period.
• The intervention was particularly effective for individuals with initially low vegetable-shopping habits.
• Evidence suggests psychological factors like identity, motivation, and self-efficacy play a role in habit development.

Conclusions:

• A simple, single-session intervention can foster long-lasting changes in higher order habits related to nutrition.
• Higher order habit interventions show promise for improving vegetable consumption and promoting healthier dietary patterns.
• Targeting planning strategies can effectively support the development of sustainable healthy eating behaviors.