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. 2016 Jan;1(1):92-103.
doi: 10.1086/684364. Epub 2016 Jan 1.

Using Healthy Defaults in Walt Disney World Restaurants to Improve Nutritional Choices

John Peters  1 , Jimikaye Beck  2 , Jan Lande  2 , Zhaoxing Pan  3 , Michelle Cardel  4 , Keith Ayoob  5 , James O Hill  1
Affiliations

Using Healthy Defaults in Walt Disney World Restaurants to Improve Nutritional Choices

John Peters et al. J Assoc Consum Res. 2016 Jan.

Abstract

A retrospective study of kids' meals purchased at Walt Disney World was conducted to determine acceptance rates for healthy sides and beverages. Purchase data from all 145 Walt Disney World restaurants were analyzed using a log-linear model and a Poisson regression. Across all restaurants, 47.9% and 66.3% of guests accepted healthy default sides and beverages, respectively. Acceptance rates of sides and beverages were higher at quick-service restaurants (49.4% and 67.8%, respectively) compared to table-service restaurants (40.3% and 45.6%, respectively). The healthy defaults reduced calories (21.4%), fat (43.9%), and sodium (43.4%) for kids' meal sides and beverages. This study contributes by examining the use of kids' meal healthy defaults in quick-service and table-service restaurant formats at the world's largest theme park, a previously unstudied setting, and by providing the largest ever healthy default data set. The results suggest that healthy defaults can shift food and beverage selection patterns toward healthier options.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percent of healthy and classic kids’ menu items sold at all Walt Disney World restaurants.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percent of healthy and classic kids’ menu items sold at all Walt Disney World quick-service restaurants.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Percent of healthy and classic kids’ menu items sold at all Walt Disney World table-service restaurants.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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