Basic Pursuits

A recent article from the New York Times cites studies showing that people who are well fed have a better chance at exercising self control than those whose blood sugar is depleted. Furthermore, restoring blood sugar levels seems to replenish self control.

There's been a dust-up over the publication of the results of a study inquiring into the eating habits of young kids and McDonald's.

Three to 5 year-olds tasted food served side by side in no packaging and in McDonald's packaging. The kids preferred the food packaged in McDonald's wrappings over unpackaged food even though both contained exactly the same food! Whether it was chicken mcnuggets or milk and carrots, if it was wrapped in a McDonald's wrapper, the kids liked the taste better.