title: The limits of defaults: why french fries trump apple slices.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Healthy default food choices have been suggested as a way to encourage better nutrition without restricting choice. Will they work with children and their favorite foods?
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of children, 6-8 years old, were treated to lunch at fast food restaurant on 2 days 2 weeks apart. On both days the children were served chicken nuggets and a drink. On the first day, half were given French fries unless they asked for apple slices and the other half were given apples unless they asked for fries. The order switched on the second day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When the default changed from fries to apples, 86.7 % opted out of the default to order fries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Defaults may be ineffective when children have a strong preference for the less healthy option. Allowing children to take both sides may lead to healthier consumption than constructing an artificial default choice.
authors.affiliation: Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University, 210C Warren Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA. fblsubmissions@cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wansink
authors.affiliation: Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University, 210C Warren Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Just
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009518:New York
keywords: Behavior; Defaults; Fast food; Food choices; Obesity; School age children