For years we were all about super-size-me culture wanting more and more for our money, until a focus on health took over and put the kibbosh on that way of thinking, especially at fast food restaurants. Now science is saying there's actually an easy way to get adults to choose to eat less: pay them. 

According to The Consumerist, a study done by The University of Arizona's Eller College of Management says the incentive of receiving a prize, even though it means you're going to be eating less food, is what draws people into purchasing McDonald's Happy Meals. They suggest using this information to promote portion control and provide people with healthier eating options.

When presented with the choice between a full sandwich or a half-sandwich and a pair of earbuds,  78% of a group of sixth-graders chose the smaller sandwich and the gift. Those are children, though. Adults wouldn't fall prey to this, right? Wrong.

In fact, adults don't even really need to be receiving a prize to go for the smaller portion; all they need is the incentive. When presented with the option of full-sized meals or smaller meals with the chance of $100 gift card or 10,000 frequent flier miles, the adults almost always chose the smaller meal. 

What does this mean? Martin Reimann, one of the researchers from the University of Arizona, stated, "If non-food rewards, even small and uncertain ones, can be just as engaging at a neurochemical level, then restaurants can potentially motivate healthier choices without jeopardizing sales, and consumers have more paths to avoid overeating."

Essentially, because adults are sad creatures who are inevitably drawn to the mere thought of receiving a reward, science is going to use this against you by making you eat healthier. Next time you swing by the McDonald's drive-thru after work, just order a Happy Meal. You know you want the toy—and the smaller portions. 

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