Effect of a Pleasure-Oriented Intervention Conducted at Home on the Energy Intake of Midafternoon Snacks Consumed by Children

Abstract

This study assessed the impact of a hedonic intervention on the energy intake of midafternoon snacks consumed by children at home. Before the intervention (T1), after (T2), and 2 months later (T3), a booklet was sent to 187 children aged 7–11 years inviting them to describe their snack consumptions. After T1, children were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=94), who received hedonic boxes to stimulate the sensory, psychosocial, and interpersonal pleasure of consuming healthy foods, or to a control group (n=93), who received boxes targeting table decoration. Between T1 and T2, a significant decrease in energy intake was observed in the experimental group but not in the control group; the intervention decreased the amount of food eaten but did not change their average nutritional quality. Effects among “heavy” eaters were larger than among “light” eaters. Promoting conscious sensory experiences may favor children’s epicurean pleasure, which could help reduce energy intake.