By: MyHealthNewsDaily Staff
Published: 08/22/2012 11:55 AM EDT on MyHealthNewsDaily
The image of Elmo may be all that's needed to get kids to eat more fruits and veggies, a new study suggests.
In the study, children were more likely to add an apple to their school lunch when it was adorned with a sticker of the popular children's TV character.
In contrast, adding an Elmo sticker to a cookie did not increase the likelihood of children choosing it, the study found.
While the cookie proved popular regardless of how it was presented, the findings suggest that the marketing tactic of using kid-friendly characters to promote unhealthy food to children also could be used to get kids to eat healthy foods, the researchers said.
"There is concern over what impact branded products in lunchrooms might have on children's selection of food," the researchers, who are from Cornell University, wrote in the August issue of the journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. "This study suggests that the use of branding, or appealing branded characters, may benefit healthier foods more than indulgent, more highly processed foods."
About 200 children between ages 8 and 11 from seven schools took part in the five-day study. At lunchtime, they were allowed to choose an apple or cookie as part of their lunch (and could choose both if they wanted).
On the first day, neither the apple nor the cookie contained a sticker. On other days, the sticker was placed on either the apple or the cookie.
About 90 percent chose a cookie on the first day, and there was no significant change after the sticker was added to it.
However, the percentage of children who chose an apple nearly doubled ? to close to 40 percent ? when the sticker was added.
"Just as attractive names have been shown to increase the selection of healthier foods in school lunches, brands and cartoon characters can do the same," the researchers said.
Pass it on: Kids may be more likely to eat healthy foods if they are adorned with images of a popular children's TV character.
Follow MyHealthNewsDaily on Twitter @MyHealth_MHND. We're also on Facebook & Google+.
Copyright 2012 MyHealthNewsDaily, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.