No AccessLongitudinal Effects and Consumption

Children’s Variety Seeking in Food Choices

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Margaret Echelbarger (corresponding author; [email protected]), University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, 5807 S. Woodlawn Ave., Chicago, IL 60637-1610, USA. Michal Maimaran ([email protected]), Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, 2211 Campus Dr., Evanston, IL 60208-0898, USA. Susan A. Gelman ([email protected]), University of Michigan, Department of Psychology, 530 Church St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1043, USA. The authors thank the UM Living Lab Program, the McGaw YMCA Children’s Center, and the many children and their families who supported this research. They also thank Mark Brow, Nicole Cuneo, Zahra Dawson, Ergest Isak, Ethan Kenney, Zaina Khoury, Aiya Saad, Sarah Snay, Liesl Stemas, Emma Ward, Carolyn Wells Keller, Jocelyn Cosette Grabke, and Rebecca Jane Krause for their help with this project. Portions of this research were included in Margaret Echelbarger’s dissertation.

Abstract

Across three studies, we examine the variety selections of 329 children (4–9 years of age) and 81 adults in the food domain. In studies 1 and 2, we find that, like adults, children prefer to diversify their selections given no established preference for one item over another. In study 3, we find that children (4–9 years) diversify their selections more and choose more healthy options when choosing items simultaneously (all on one day) versus sequentially (across several days). Together, our results provide novel insight into the potential for variety to serve as a tool to promote greater well-being in childhood.