A new study looked at how children judge whether packaged foods are healthy based on what the package looks like. Researchers found that kids with impulsive personalities are more easily fooled by packaging design—they might think a snack is healthier just because the box looks a certain way. This matters because food companies use packaging tricks to make unhealthy foods seem better for you, and some kids fall for it more than others. Understanding these tricks can help parents teach children to look beyond the package and check what’s actually inside.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether children can tell if packaged foods are actually healthy, and how the package design and a child’s personality affect their judgment
  • Who participated: Children of various ages who were shown different packaged foods and asked to rate how healthy they thought the foods were
  • Key finding: Kids with impulsive personalities were more likely to think foods were healthy based only on how the package looked, rather than what was actually in the food
  • What it means for you: If your child is impulsive or makes quick decisions, they may be more vulnerable to being tricked by colorful or healthy-looking food packages. Teaching them to read ingredient lists and nutrition labels is especially important

The Research Details

Researchers showed children different packaged foods and asked them to decide how healthy each food was. The packages had different designs—some looked healthy (like using green colors or pictures of vegetables) while others looked less healthy. The researchers also measured how impulsive each child was by giving them personality tests. This helped them see if impulsive kids were more easily fooled by package design than kids who think before they act.

Food companies spend millions designing packages to make unhealthy foods look good. If we understand how packaging tricks work on different kids, parents and teachers can help children make better food choices. This is especially important because childhood obesity is a growing problem, and misleading packages are part of the issue.

This study looked at real children and their actual reactions to food packages, which is more realistic than just asking them questions. However, the full details about how many children participated and other study specifics weren’t available in the information provided, so we can’t fully evaluate how strong the evidence is

What the Results Show

The main finding was that children’s ability to judge whether food is healthy depends a lot on the package design. Kids with impulsive personalities—meaning they make quick decisions without thinking things through—were especially influenced by how the package looked. They were more likely to think a food was healthy if the package had healthy-looking features, even if the food inside wasn’t actually healthy. In contrast, kids who are more thoughtful and less impulsive were better at seeing through the packaging tricks and making more accurate judgments about the food’s actual healthiness.

The study also showed that specific package features matter. Things like the colors used, pictures on the box, and words on the label all influenced what kids thought about the food. Some package designs were more convincing than others at making unhealthy foods seem healthy.

Earlier research has shown that adults are also fooled by food packaging, but this study adds new information by showing that children’s personalities play a big role in how easily they’re tricked. This builds on previous work showing that impulsive people tend to make quicker judgments based on appearance rather than careful thinking.

The study doesn’t tell us exactly how many children were involved or their exact ages, which makes it harder to know how widely these findings apply. We also don’t know if the results would be the same in real grocery stores versus in a research setting. Additionally, the study only looked at packaged foods, so we don’t know if the same patterns would happen with other types of foods

The Bottom Line

Parents should teach children to look beyond the package and check the nutrition label on the back. This is especially important if your child tends to be impulsive or makes quick decisions. Talk to kids about how companies use colors, pictures, and words to make foods look healthier than they are. Practice reading labels together so kids learn to spot real healthy foods versus foods that just look healthy on the outside. (Confidence level: Moderate—this is based on one study, though it aligns with what we know about how marketing affects food choices)

Parents of children, especially those with impulsive personalities, should pay attention to this research. Teachers and school nutrition programs could also use this information. Food companies and policymakers might consider stricter rules about how foods can be packaged and labeled. People trying to help children develop healthy eating habits should definitely care about this

Teaching kids to read labels and think critically about packaging is a long-term habit. You might see small improvements in food choices within a few weeks, but building strong habits usually takes several months of practice and reminders

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track how often your child checks the nutrition label before deciding if a food is healthy. Set a goal like ‘check the label on 3 packaged foods per week’ and log when they do it
  • When shopping or eating, have your child practice the ‘package flip’ game: look at the front of the package, guess if it’s healthy, then flip it over to check the nutrition label and see if they were right. Log their guesses and actual results in the app
  • Over time, track whether your child’s ability to correctly judge food healthiness improves. Create a simple scoring system where they rate their confidence in their judgment before and after checking the label, and watch for improvement over weeks and months

This research describes patterns in how children perceive packaged foods based on package design and personality traits. It is not medical advice and should not replace guidance from your child’s pediatrician or a registered dietitian. If you have concerns about your child’s nutrition or eating habits, please consult with a healthcare professional. Food choices are complex and involve many factors beyond packaging design, including taste preferences, family habits, and access to different foods.