How animal identifiability affects children's food choices
Naming a chicken and describing its favorite habits is enough to make preschoolers choose poultry less often. This effect translates into verbal declarations and actual meal choices, but food preferences still most often win over empathy, according to a new paper by researchers from SWPS University.
A new study from SWPS University reveals that naming a chicken and describing its characteristics can influence preschoolers to reduce their meat consumption. When children were presented with a named chicken, referred to as Lelek, and given information about its individual habits, they were less likely to select poultry meat for their toy sandwiches.
This effect extended to other chickens but not to pork, and only affected children with low or moderate initial interest in meat. The researchers suggest that personalized animal characters in preschool education could promote healthier diets rich in plant-based foods, while noting the importance of considering individual taste preferences and home habits.
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