Page 6 - RR-12-4-25

6 • RIVERROCK T • Thursday, December 4, 2025
Study: Family grocery purchases improved when online

grocery carts were preloaded with healthy ingredients

niversity at Buffalo research- more likely to have obesity later in in families with young children at
Uers have shown that preloading life, putting them at risk for cardio- risk for obesity.
Instacart online grocery carts with vascular and other diet-related dis- Eligible families had to do at
healthy ingredients could be a use- eases. least 75% of their grocery shopping
ful tool for improving the diets of “Since experience with foods online, and one parent had to have a
families with young kids at risk for and flavors early in life can influ- body mass index of at least 25, clas-
obesity. ence children’s later food preferenc- sifying them as overweight. A di-
Published on Dec. 3 in Appetite, es, eating behavior and health, it’s verse group of 69 families, nearly
the randomized, controlled pilot important to make healthy choices half of whom were living with lower
study found that providing families easier for families with young chil- incomes, participated.
with healthy recipes and then pre- dren,” Anzman-Frasca says. All families received healthy rec-
loading online grocery carts via In- A ‘real-world’ family ipes for two weeks, and a sample
stacart with the ingredients needed shopping intervention recipe bundle is included in the pub- Win Busy Weeknights
to make those recipes resulted in The study was the first time that lished paper. Each weekly bundle
families making purchases that a default grocery shopping interven- included recipes for three dinners, with a One-Pan Meal
were significantly more nutritious tion for families with young chil- plus a “bonus” recipe, such as a
compared to a group that received dren was conducted in a real-world snack, that used leftover ingredients
only the recipes. Families paid for scenario, where families were pur- from the dinner meals. While all (Family Features) If the holiday 15 ounces ricotta cheese
their grocery purchases as usual and chasing the actual groceries they participating families received the season has you avoiding the kitchen 2 cups mozzarella cheese
were free to switch out pre-loaded would be eating during the four- recipes, half of the families had their at all costs, a one-pan weeknight 1 cup Parmesan cheese
cart ingredients if they wanted to. week study. The goal was to test in Instacart online grocery carts pre- meal that's equal parts filling, satis- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
“The findings support the idea a real-world shopping situation the loaded with the ingredients to make fying and simple can let you spend 1 tablespoon garlic powder
that healthier choices can be sup- impact of “optimal defaults,” the those dishes, while the other half did more time with loved ones and less 1 tablespoon onion powder
ported by making them easier and idea that preselected options can be not. time at the counter. Turn to Cheesy 1 tablespoon lemon thyme
more automatic,” says Stephanie helpful in guiding people toward “When faced with making a Spinach Chicken Bake that can eas- Heat oven to 375 F.
Anzman-Frasca, PhD, correspond- healthy behaviors. choice, most people will take the ily be adapted to your family's tastes Cut rotisserie chicken and spin-
ing author on the paper and an asso- Anzman-Frasca and her col- default option unless they’re highly by swapping out spinach for brocco- ach into bite-sized pieces. In baking
ciate professor of pediatrics and leagues in the Division of Behavior- motivated to choose an alternative,” li or cauliflower. To find more holi- dish, mix chicken and spinach with
director of the Child Health and al Medicine have done pioneering says Mackenzie Ferrante, PhD, a day season solutions, visit ricotta cheese.
Behavior Lab in the Jacobs School work in behavioral medicine and co-author and assistant professor at Culinary.net. Add mozzarella, Parmesan, Ital-
of Medicine and Biomedical Sci- nutrition, including prior research Rutgers University. “These days, the Cheesy Spinach ian seasoning, garlic powder, onion
ences at UB. on optimal defaults; in this study, easy, or default, choice with food is powder and lemon thyme. Mix well
Research shows that children they wanted to see how the preload- rarely the healthy option. We wanted Chicken Bake then bake 30 minutes.
who are overweight by age 5 are ed default grocery carts would work to see what would happen if the Recipe courtesy Source: Culinary.net
default option for families was the
of "Cookin' Savvy"
healthy choice.”
Servings: 4-6
2 cups chopped rotisserie chicken We are online at
10 ounces frozen spinach, thawed
and drained riverrocktimes.com

THEME: DISNEY CHARACTERS

ACROSS DOWN
1. Imperfections 1. Part of an envelope
6. Part of T.G.I.F. 2. *Nani Pelekai's little sister and
9. Stark daughter on "Game of new pet owner
Thrones" 3. At the summit of
13. Kind of print, for short 4. Beats, slangily
14. Hula dancer's flowers 5. Hypertension sufferer's dietary
15. Kitchen tear-jerker concern
16. Viva voce 6. Sorts
17. Draft beer container 7. Driver's aid
18. Confused 8. Fraternity letter
19. *Irreverent Disney nanny 9. Dwarf buffalo
21. *Scar's older brother 10. Oil field structures
23. Famous T-Rex 11. Moving meditation practice
24. Gardening tool 12. "____ day now"
25. Louisville Slugger 15. Hurt or upset
28. Stallion's mate 20. Some tides
30. Famous ciphering machine 22. Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's
35. D'Artagnan's weapon of choice strings
37. Essence 24. Take back
39. Gloomy and drab 25. *Beast's love interest
40. Containing limestone 26. Bee-related
41. Scrawny one 27. Act like a siren
43. Purse to match a gown 29. Macaulay Culkin's "Richie
44. Spot for boutonnière ____"
46. John Oates' partner Daryl 31. Wraths
47. Prepare for a rainy day 32. Gain access to (2 words)
48. Catch in a snare 33. Shade of violet
50. Rapper LL ____ J 34. *a.k.a Little Mermaid
52. ____ Aviv 36. Ogler
53. Wholly engrossed 38. Angel's headgear
55. Call to Bo Peep 42. Geography class prop
57. *Shere Khan's sworn enemy 45. "____ than life"
60. *Marie's and Toulouse's young- 49. Chum
er brother 51. Immature, as an undeveloped
64. Beneficiary insect
65. Opposite of nothing 54. Baby grand
67. Pancho's last name 56. Full of pep
68. Weasel's aquatic cousin 57. It's drawn to light
69. "New" prefix 58. "I'm ____ you!"
70. *Like Iago in "Alladin" or Lad- 59. Shed tears
dy Kluck in "Robin Hood" 60. Soak some ink
71. Karate blow 61. Hipbones
72. Not safe in baseball 62. *"I am ____, and I like warm
73. Like salad greens hugs"
63. Goofy or silly
64. *Leader of the seven dwarfs
66. Romanian money

Answers on page 7