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If you’re in a state with one of those hip new “bag laws,” you probably have one (or ten) cute totes that you love to bring to the grocery store. You know you’re making an environmental difference, why not do it in style?
It’s great to BYOB, and you should feel great about it. However, a new study shows that it may be making people feel so good that they’re sabotaging their own diets.
Weirdly enough, there were two findings. First, there’s the good news. People who bring their own bags do end up buying more organic products. The bad news though, is that you’re also more likely to buy more indulgent junk foods, like cookies and crackers.
This study was done on shoppers who were mostly women, and it seemed like this effect was more present in women without children than women with them, probably because women with kids are more conscious of their kids diets than their need for Pinwheel cookies.
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What’s the connection? Scientists don’t know for sure, but it’s speculated that it has something to do with the feelings you get from bringing your own bag. Since you’re already doing something good for the environment, you feel like you want to do more, so you buy your organic kale or your Kashi cereal. Then, because you’ve done so much good for the world, don’t you deserve a treat?
Well, sort of, but keep tabs on it. Just because you’re bringing your own bag doesn’t mean you should stuff it with junk.
Do you find yourself reaching for more chocolate when you bring your own bag? How do you combat it?
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