Researchers tested whether smart shopping strategies could help people choose healthier foods at food relief pantries in Australia. They tried two approaches: moving healthy foods to eye-level spots and putting signs next to them, then added lower prices on junk food to discourage purchases. Both methods worked! People bought more fresh fruits and vegetables and fewer sugary snacks and drinks. The results suggest that even small changes to how food is displayed and priced can help people make better food choices when they’re getting free groceries.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether moving healthy foods to better spots in food pantries and using signs or price changes could get people to pick more nutritious foods instead of sugary snacks
  • Who participated: Two food relief pantries in Australia where people can choose their own groceries. The study tracked what actual customers bought over several months
  • Key finding: When healthy foods were placed at eye level with promotional signs, people bought significantly more fresh fruits and vegetables and fewer sugary drinks and snacks. Adding lower prices on unhealthy foods made this effect even stronger
  • What it means for you: If you use a food pantry, these simple changes could make it easier to pick healthier options. However, this only works if the pantry has enough healthy foods available in the first place

The Research Details

Researchers studied two food pantries over several months, dividing the time into four periods. First, they tracked what people normally bought for 9 weeks (baseline). Then they rearranged the stores for 12 weeks, putting healthy foods at eye level and adding colorful signs to highlight them. Next, they added a third step for 6 weeks: making unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks more expensive. Finally, they watched for 8 weeks after removing the changes to see if people kept their new habits.

To measure success, they weighed all the food that left the pantries and sorted items into categories based on how healthy they were. They also checked whether the stores were following the new arrangement rules and counted how many people saw the healthy foods displayed prominently.

This approach is called ’nudging’—using small changes in how choices are presented to guide people toward better decisions, without forcing them or limiting their options.

Food insecurity means people don’t have reliable access to enough healthy food. Simply giving people free groceries isn’t enough if they choose unhealthy options. This study shows that how food is arranged and priced matters just as much as what’s available. These are low-cost changes that food pantries can make to help people eat better without needing more money or resources

This study has several strengths: it measured real purchases over a long time period rather than just asking people what they’d do, it tested changes in actual food pantries with real customers, and it included a follow-up period to see if changes lasted. However, the study only included two pantries, so results might differ in other locations. The study didn’t track individual people, only overall purchases, so we don’t know if the same people made healthier choices or if different people shopped at different times

What the Results Show

When healthy foods were moved to prominent spots with promotional signs (the 2P intervention), purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables increased noticeably, while purchases of sugary snacks and drinks decreased. This showed that simply making healthy foods more visible and attractive can influence choices.

When researchers added the pricing strategy (3P intervention)—making unhealthy foods more expensive—the effect got even stronger. People bought even more healthy foods and even fewer unhealthy options. This combination of better placement plus pricing changes was more effective than placement alone.

Interestingly, some of these positive changes continued even after the interventions ended, suggesting people may have developed new shopping habits. However, not all effects stayed the same after the changes were removed, indicating that ongoing intervention helps maintain the benefits.

The study found that these nudging strategies worked without limiting anyone’s choices—people could still buy whatever they wanted, but the store setup made healthier options easier to pick.

The research showed that in-store displays needed to be set up correctly and consistently for the nudging to work. When stores didn’t follow the arrangement guidelines perfectly, the benefits were smaller. This suggests that proper training and ongoing support for food pantry staff is important. The study also found that the availability of healthy foods was crucial—nudging only works when there’s actually enough healthy food in stock for people to choose from

Previous research in regular grocery stores has shown that nudging and pricing strategies can influence food choices, but this is one of the first studies to test these approaches in food relief settings. The results align with what researchers have found in regular retail: making healthy foods more visible and accessible encourages people to buy them. However, this study adds important new information by showing these strategies can work for people experiencing food insecurity, who may have different shopping patterns than typical grocery customers

The study only looked at two food pantries, so the results might not apply everywhere. Different communities, store layouts, and customer populations might respond differently. The study measured what left the pantries but didn’t track individual shoppers, so we don’t know if the same people changed their habits or if different people shopped at different times. The study didn’t measure whether people actually ate the healthier foods or if their nutrition improved—only that they took them home. Additionally, the study required consistent, adequate supplies of healthy foods, which may not be realistic for all food relief programs

The Bottom Line

Food pantries should consider rearranging stores to place healthy foods at eye level and use colorful signs to highlight them (moderate confidence). Adding pricing strategies that make unhealthy foods more expensive can strengthen these effects (moderate confidence). However, these strategies only work if pantries have sufficient supplies of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods available (high confidence). Staff training and ongoing monitoring are important to maintain these changes (moderate confidence)

Food pantry managers and staff should care about these findings because they offer practical, low-cost ways to help their clients eat better. People who use food pantries may benefit from these changes, though individual results will vary. Policymakers and organizations that fund food relief programs should consider these findings when designing or improving pantry operations. Regular grocery stores might also apply these lessons to help all shoppers make healthier choices

Changes in shopping behavior may start appearing within a few weeks of implementing the new store layout and signs. The strongest effects typically show up after several weeks as people become familiar with the new arrangement. Some benefits may continue even after changes are removed, but they tend to fade over time if the interventions aren’t maintained. For lasting impact, these strategies need to be ongoing

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track weekly servings of fresh fruits and vegetables obtained from food pantries, plus weekly purchases of sugary snacks and drinks. Users can photograph receipts or pantry bags to log items, creating a visual record of their food choices over time
  • When visiting a food pantry, users can set a goal to fill their basket with items from the ‘healthy’ section first (fruits, vegetables, whole grains) before selecting other items. The app can send reminders before pantry visits suggesting specific healthy foods to look for
  • Track the ratio of healthy to less-healthy foods chosen each pantry visit over 8-12 weeks. Users can also log energy levels and how they feel to correlate dietary changes with wellness. Monthly check-ins can help users notice patterns and celebrate progress toward more balanced food choices

This research describes strategies used in food relief settings and should not replace professional nutritional or medical advice. Individual results may vary based on personal health conditions, preferences, and circumstances. People with specific dietary needs or medical conditions should consult with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian before making significant changes to their diet. This study was conducted in Australian food pantries and may not apply equally to all settings or populations. The findings suggest these strategies can help, but they are not a substitute for addressing the underlying causes of food insecurity or ensuring adequate access to nutritious food for all people in need.