Symbolism Of Meat For Acceptance Of Fruits And Vegetables

Tested the extent to which dietary preferences are altered by making aspects of the symbolic meaning of meat salient to participants.

People in the treatment group were informed of a previous study which found that people who believe in social hierarchy and human dominance over nature consume more red and white meat, while those who did not support these concepts ate more fruits and vegetables.

The results showed that in comparing individuals in the treatment group and control groups who also rejected these theories, the subjects in the treatment group perceived red and white meat less favorably, decreased their liking and object identification of these meats, and anticipated greater consumption (and did so) of fruits and vegetables three weeks later.

Also a negative response toward meat and a preference for fruits and vegetables was strongest for individuals in the treatment group for whom the manipulation made sense, including those with less confidence in dietary choices, those who had already considered reducing meat consumption and low to normal weight people.