Comments on: Do Consumers Really Have Free Choice? Fast Food and the Physiology of Self-Regulation

By: Emiliya

Emiliya — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 08:02:39 +0000

Hey Jordan,

Great article.

What are your thoughts on the relationship between self-regulation and advertising?

Reading this I pictured myself walking through Times Square in New York where the self-regulation needed to avoid ALL the flashy signs, the bling and the ads, no wonder the McDonald’s are packed. There is perhaps one or two locations to buy healthy “natural” food along the whole Times Square strip.

Times Square is a prime location for fast food places.

Emiliya

By: Wu long tea

Wu long tea — Mon, 05 May 2008 23:41:45 +0000

Wu long tea…

The acidic cycle in your body functions in the following way. When you eat foods that produce acid when they are digested, this acid builds up in your body. When the acid is not eliminated in a timely fashion, it can disturb other cells and get in the …

By: sjm silberman

sjm silberman — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:54:06 +0000

sjs - makes perfect sense. news to me about glucose levels.

love you.

sjm

ps - pls fly to philly

By: Kathryn Britton

Kathryn Britton — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:50:41 +0000

Dave, I do remember something from Barry Schwartz about how if you give people too many choices on 401K plans, they postpone making decisions because they aren’t sure what to do — and then often don’t sign up at all. I think that’s in his book about choices.

Kathryn

By: jeffdustin

jeffdustin — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:39:54 +0000

Default choices or automating the decision process is definitley a helpful route. I remember when I was in the military, we were served what they gave us to eat and I lost a lot of weight. Sometimes choice can lead to bad outcomes and restriction can help.

By: Dave Shearon

Dave Shearon — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:10:23 +0000

Someone help me out here — this makes me think of the work on default choices (e.g., everyone’s enrolled in the 401K unless you opt out). Who was that? Does it ring a bell with anyone else that it might apply here?

By: leosatter

leosatter — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 04:07:38 +0000

I hope you can help me out. I am trying to get my health under control so starting to eat right is my first step. Do you know where I can purchase quality food online? (that is on the healthy side) I am starting to do all of my shopping online because of various reasons…so I am hoping you can help me out with a suggestion or two.
So far I have only tried Celebrity foods (which is outstanding by the way)
I am in desperate need to grow my list of quality services or stores, where I can buy my food from. Thank you and have a great day or night (depending on when you read this. LOL!

By: Marie-Josee Salvas

Marie-Josee Salvas — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 02:11:08 +0000

Jordan,
What a wonderful article! Crisp, clear, vivid, to the point and so, so true! I couldn’t agree with you more! Where natural, light and nutritious foods are available, making the right choices is largely facilitated. Each time I travel abroad, I am impressed by the quality of the food and the portion sizes offered in all types of establishments. Self-regulating then comes naturally. It’s like oiling the machinery and reinforcing its bolts - it gets stronger and runs smoother without requiring extra effort!
Very well put! Thank you for this article!
MarieJ

By: Jeff Dustin

Jeff Dustin — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 21:56:21 +0000

Jordan,

I liked your article about self-reg. Right on! I think especially of our commuter lifestyles and the lack of home economics education these days. I can boil an egg but that’s pretty much the extent of my culinary skill…that and watching Top Chef on Bravo TV. I usually will rush to work with less than 30 minutes remaining and grab something at Tim Horton’s (a Fast Food establishment).

Yes it is a choice…I could get up earlier. Yes I could make my own horrible tasting breakfast, but it is tastier, easier, quicker, cheaper…in short more efficient to let Tim Horton do it for me. Plus I am using a lot of self-regulation going to work and school at the same time.

Well thought-out and written article.

By: Doug Turner

Doug Turner — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 19:58:27 +0000

Jordan: I heard Baumeister talk about this at the last Positive Psychology Summit. It was very interesting and made a lot of intuitive sense to me. It reminded me of my Mom’s warning: “Never go grocery shopping when you are hungry.” When you are hungry you are depleted and your self-regulation muscles are weak. I think this concept is at the base of many diets that call for multiple small means throughout the day rather than the traditional 2-3. I also remember someone (I think it was Jonathan Haidt)encouraged Baumeister to create the Positive Psychology Diet plan! There might be something to that idea! Nice post. Doug