Are you all about the Veggies or the Fruit?
In a white paper written by Brian Wansink and team (Cornell Food and Brand Lab) we find that veggie lovers behave in a very different manner than fruit lovers, which I call “Fruitys” because I am one. Give me berries over Brussels sprouts ANY day!
Seriously, though, the differences are good to know when strategizing your plan for eating well.
Vegetable lovers tend to entertain guests more frequently, cook more nutritious meals and try new recipes more frequently than fruit lovers. They are less likely to eat dessert and more likely to drink wine with dinner. They’re also more likely to eat spicy food.
So for veggie lovers: Learning how vegetables can enhance a meal, how they can impress dinner guests, how they can make recipes taste different, how they can be used with interesting spices, and how they can complement the right wine all make good strategies for increased veggie consumption.
For fruit lovers: Learning how fruits are healthy replacements for desserts or for sweet snacks and how fruits offer a convenient and easy way to complement a meal without requiring much time, talent, effort, or know-how, all make better sense. Sweeter veggies that might excite a Fruity are sweet potatoes, avocado, fruit salsas and tomatoes. Adding fruit to salads or to accompany veggies can help the medicine go down as can a drizzle of fruity salad dressing or even a simple spritz of lemon.
Why the difference? Researchers speculate that there are those who prefer the salty and savory (i.e. the veggie lover) and those who have a sweet tooth (the Fruity). Thus they go toward what they know and love. As not just a Fruity, but a Fruity-a-holic, I’m thinking I’ve got some work to do in aiming toward more veggies – time to open up my mind!
Knowing how knowledge peaks our interest makes a difference in whether or not we act on tips. Get to know your style and tailor your learning to your skills.
You in Your Workplace:
Survey your folks before you launch lunch-and-learn programs on nutrition or a 5-A-Day campaign. Veggie lovers won’t want a general nutrition program. They’ll want recipes and ideas. Fruit lovers will want menu plans and grocery lists. They’ll want to taste veggies that could be added to their regimen. In short, tailor your events and nutritional info to your audience.
See you on the crunchy PATH Ahead!