IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/ucp/jacres/doi10.1086-684476.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

When the Cupboards Are Bare: Nudging Food Pantry Clients to Healthier Foods

Author

Listed:
  • Norbert Wilson

Abstract

Marketing researchers have a great opportunity to help people who live in food insecure households and the food pantries that serve them. Food pantries are private organizations that help fill the food gap for people who live in poverty. Client-choice food pantries permit clients to select foods of varying degrees of healthiness. Clients, who are characterized as vulnerable consumers, may tend toward less healthy foods, in part due to compensatory consumption. Pantry organizers are interested in finding unobtrusive ways to nudge clients to healthier products. However, no research exists that explores the use of nudges from behavioral economics and consumer research in food pantries. In this article, a series of possible nudges are presented to begin analysis in client-choice food pantries and evaluate them via the CAN (convenient, attractive, and normalize) approach. Beyond food pantries, this article suggests more research of the choices of people living in poverty.

Suggested Citation

  • Norbert Wilson, 2016. "When the Cupboards Are Bare: Nudging Food Pantry Clients to Healthier Foods," Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, University of Chicago Press, vol. 1(1), pages 125-133.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jacres:doi:10.1086/684476
    DOI: 10.1086/684476
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/684476
    Download Restriction: Access to the online full text or PDF requires a subscription.
    File URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/684476
    Download Restriction: Access to the online full text or PDF requires a subscription.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1086/684476?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. van Ittersum Koert & Pennings Joost M.E & Wansink Brian, 2010. "Trying Harder and Doing Worse: How Grocery Shoppers Track in-Store Spending," NIM Marketing Intelligence Review, Sciendo, vol. 2(2), pages 50-51, November.
    2. John Peters & Jimikaye Beck & Jan Lande & Zhaoxing Pan & Michelle Cardel & Keith Ayoob & James O. Hill, 2016. "Using Healthy Defaults in Walt Disney World Restaurants to Improve Nutritional Choices," Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, University of Chicago Press, vol. 1(1), pages 92-103.
    3. Just, David R. & Wansink, Brian & Mancino, Lisa & Guthrie, Joanne F., 2008. "Behavioral Economic Concepts To Encourage Healthy Eating in School Cafeterias: Experiments and Lessons From College Students," Economic Research Report 56489, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    4. Nguyen Pham & Naomi Mandel & Andrea C. Morales, 2016. "Messages from the Food Police: How Food-Related Warnings Backfire among Dieters," Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, University of Chicago Press, vol. 1(1), pages 175-190.
    5. Weidner, Kelly L. & Rosa, José Antonio & Viswanathan, Madhu, 2010. "Marketing to subsistence consumers: Lessons from practice," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 63(6), pages 559-569, June.
    6. Wen You & Paul D. Mitchell & Rodolfo M. Nayga, 2012. "Improving Food Choices Among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Recipients," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 21(7), pages 852-864, July.
    7. Gustavo Porpino, 2016. "Household Food Waste Behavior: Avenues for Future Research," Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, University of Chicago Press, vol. 1(1), pages 41-51.
    8. Bertrand, Marianne & Shafir, Eldar & Mullainathan, Sendhil, 2006. "Behavioral Economics and Marketing in Aid of Decision Making Among the Poor," Scholarly Articles 2962609, Harvard University Department of Economics.
    9. Andrew S. Hanks & David R. Just & Brian Wansink, "undated". "Healthy Convenience: Nudging Students Toward Healthier Choices in Lunchroom," Working Papers 2012-03, Cornell Center for Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Programs.
    10. Chikweche, Tendai & Fletcher, Richard, 2010. "Understanding factors that influence purchases in subsistence markets," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 63(6), pages 643-650, June.
    11. James Binkley, 2010. "Low Income and Poor Health Choices: The Example of Smoking," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 92(4), pages 972-984.
    12. Thorndike, A.N. & Sonnenberg, L. & Riis, J. & Barraclough, S. & Levy, D.E., 2012. "A 2-phase labeling and choice architecture intervention to improve healthy food and beverage choices," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(3), pages 527-533.
    13. Allcott, Hunt, 2011. "Social norms and energy conservation," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(9-10), pages 1082-1095, October.
    14. Koert van Ittersum & Brian Wansink, 2016. "The Behavioral Science of Eating: Encouraging Boundary Research That Has Impact," Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, University of Chicago Press, vol. 1(1), pages 5-14.
    15. Coleman-Jensen, Alisha & Rabbitt, Matthew P. & Gregory, Christian & Singh, Anita, 2015. "Household Food Security in the United States in 2014," Economic Research Report 262204, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    16. Allcott, Hunt, 2011. "Social norms and energy conservation," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(9), pages 1082-1095.
    17. Derek D. Rucker & Adam D. Galinsky, 2008. "Desire to Acquire: Powerlessness and Compensatory Consumption," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 35(2), pages 257-267, April.
    18. Andrew S. Hanks & David R. Just & Brian Wansink, 2012. "Healthy Convenience: Nudging Students Toward Healthier Choices in Lunchroom," Working Papers 03, Cornell Center for Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Programs.
    19. Binkley, James K., 2010. "Low Income And Poor Health Choices: The Example Of Smoking," Working papers 58419, Purdue University, Department of Agricultural Economics.
    20. Coleman-Jensen, Alisha & Gregory, Christian & Singh, Anita, 2014. "Household Food Security in the United States in 2013," Economic Research Report 183589, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jacob Suher & Raj Raghunathan & Wayne D. Hoyer, 2016. "Eating Healthy or Feeling Empty? How the "Healthy = Less Filling" Intuition Influences Satiety," Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, University of Chicago Press, vol. 1(1), pages 26-40.
    2. Koert van Ittersum & Brian Wansink, 2016. "The Behavioral Science of Eating: Encouraging Boundary Research That Has Impact," Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, University of Chicago Press, vol. 1(1), pages 5-14.
    3. Michael A. Long & Lara Gonçalves & Paul B. Stretesky & Margaret Anne Defeyter, 2020. "Food Insecurity in Advanced Capitalist Nations: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-19, May.
    4. Wendy Attaya Boland & Ingrid M. Martin & Marlys J. Mason, 2020. "In search of well‐being: Factors influencing the movement toward and away from maladaptive consumption," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(4), pages 1178-1194, December.
    5. Cureton, Colin & King, Robert P. & Warren, Cael & Grannon, Katherine Young & Hoolihan, Courtney & Janowiec, Mark & Nanney, Marilyn S., 2017. "Factors associated with the healthfulness of food shelf orders," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 124-131.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Koert van Ittersum & Brian Wansink, 2016. "The Behavioral Science of Eating: Encouraging Boundary Research That Has Impact," Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, University of Chicago Press, vol. 1(1), pages 5-14.
    2. Ajzenman, Nicolas & López Bóo, Florencia, 2019. "Lessons from Behavioral Economics to Improve Treatment Adherence in Parenting Programs: An Application to SMS," IZA Discussion Papers 12808, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Asensio, Omar Isaac & Delmas, Magali A., 2016. "The dynamics of behavior change: Evidence from energy conservation," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 126(PA), pages 196-212.
    4. Koert van Ittersum & Brian Wansink, 2016. "Conducting Research That Stimulates Win-Win Policies," Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, University of Chicago Press, vol. 1(3), pages 471-472.
    5. Rita Abdel Sater, 2021. "Essays on the application of behavioural insights to environmental policy [Essais sur l’application des connaissances comportementales aux politiques environnementales]," SciencePo Working papers tel-03450909, HAL.
    6. Bettina Chlond & Timo Goeschl & Martin Kesternich, 2022. "More Money or Better Procedures? Evidence from an Energy Efficiency Assistance Program," MAGKS Papers on Economics 202225, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).
    7. Rita Abdel Sater, 2021. "Essays on the application of behavioural insights to environmental policy [Essais sur l’application des connaissances comportementales aux politiques environnementales]," SciencePo Working papers Main tel-03450909, HAL.
    8. Christopher P. Blocker & Kenneth C. Manning & Carlos A. Trujillo, 2023. "Beyond radical affordability in the base of the pyramid: The role of consumer self‐confidence in product acceptance," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(1), pages 619-647, January.
    9. Romain Cadario & Pierre Chandon, 2020. "Which Healthy Eating Nudges Work Best? A Meta-Analysis of Field Experiments," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 39(3), pages 465-486, May.
    10. Laiou, Elpiniki & Rapti, Iro & Schwarzer, Ralf & Fleig, Lena & Cianferotti, Luisella & Ngo, Joy & Rizos, Evangelos C. & Wetle, Terrie Fox & Kahlmeier, Sonja & Vigilanza, Antonella & Tsilidis, Konstant, 2021. "Review: Nudge interventions to promote healthy diets and physical activity," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    11. J. M. Bauer & L. A. Reisch, 2019. "Behavioural Insights and (Un)healthy Dietary Choices: a Review of Current Evidence," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 42(1), pages 3-45, March.
    12. Enax Laura & Weber Bernd, 2015. "Marketing Placebo Effects – From Behavioral Effects to Behavior Change?," Journal of Agricultural & Food Industrial Organization, De Gruyter, vol. 13(1), pages 15-31, January.
    13. Jacob Suher & Raj Raghunathan & Wayne D. Hoyer, 2016. "Eating Healthy or Feeling Empty? How the "Healthy = Less Filling" Intuition Influences Satiety," Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, University of Chicago Press, vol. 1(1), pages 26-40.
    14. Lillemo, Shuling Chen, 2014. "Measuring the effect of procrastination and environmental awareness on households' energy-saving behaviours: An empirical approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 249-256.
    15. Carattini, Stefano & Gillingham, Kenneth & Meng, Xiangyu & Yoeli, Erez, 2024. "Peer-to-peer solar and social rewards: Evidence from a field experiment," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 219(C), pages 340-370.
    16. Chatzigeorgiou, I.M. & Andreou, G.T., 2021. "A systematic review on feedback research for residential energy behavior change through mobile and web interfaces," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    17. Beatty, Timothy K.M. & Katare, Bhagyashree, 2018. "Low-cost approaches to increasing gym attendance," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 63-76.
    18. Ajla Cosic & Hana Cosic & Sebastian Ille, 2018. "Can nudges affect students' green behaviour? A field experiment," Journal of Behavioral Economics for Policy, Society for the Advancement of Behavioral Economics (SABE), vol. 2(1), pages 107-111, March.
    19. Bartels, Lara & Kesternich, Martin, 2022. "Motivate the crowd or crowd- them out? The impact of local government spending on the voluntary provision of a green public good," ZEW Discussion Papers 22-040, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    20. Hinker, Jonas & Hemkendreis, Christian & Drewing, Emily & März, Steven & Hidalgo Rodríguez, Diego I. & Myrzik, Johanna M.A., 2017. "A novel conceptual model facilitating the derivation of agent-based models for analyzing socio-technical optimality gaps in the energy domain," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 1219-1230.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ucp:jacres:doi:10.1086/684476. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Journals Division (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/JACR .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.