“It sounds simplistic, but even the simplest forms of inconvenience affect consumption,” study author David Just, PhD, told the Post. “Sliced apples just make a lot more sense for kids.”
The trend extends beyond school cafeterias. People in the United States of all ages consumed roughly 500 million fresh sliced apples in 2014, which is more than three times as many as they ate a decade ago. Baby carrots had a similar effect on carrot consumption in the U.S. as well, according to the report.
“It’s one of those circumstances where what seems like a really small inconvenience actually makes a huge difference,” Dr. Just told the Post.
Dr. Just’s lesson about inconvenience is one worth considering when implementing population health initiatives. Solving the biggest issues in healthcare may be more complex than slicing an apple, but knowing that changes can be made simply by making healthy options more convenient is one industry experts should consider.
More articles on population health:
Why Harvard and a Hong Kong oyster sauce company want healthcare to focus on happiness
Hospital-based smoking cessation program improves outcomes, reduces healthcare utilization
5 policy principles to boost population health
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