Smart card, smart choices: Incentivizing adolescents' autonomous food and beverage purchases

The prevalence of adolescent overweight in the US is at a record high. Much attention has focused on improving adolescents' nutrition at school through healthier food choices and by limiting/eradicating vending. These limiting environmental strategies, while laudable, do not promote healthful autonomous food and beverage choices outside of school or home. An incentive program was developed to encourage adolescents to make healthful autonomous choices. Using smart-card technology, purchases are tracked at several local food establishments. Points for healthy choices are awarded; accrued points can be used to “buy” incentive items. This presentation describes and details the development of this pilot program, which is being implemented in partnership with local middle and high schools, public health department, and local businesses. Strategies to evaluate the program's effectiveness on changing adolescent behavior will be discussed.