為什么孩子們更喜歡吃切成片的蘋果，對啃掉整個蘋果興趣沒那么大，研究者還沒弄清楚，不過孩子們喜歡蘋果片的程度已經有據可循。據《華盛頓郵報》報道，兩項研究發現，學校提供切片蘋果以后，孩子們明顯比以前愛吃了。

在八個學校進行的研究發現，供應切片蘋果后，消耗量增長了60%以上。在六個學校的一項后續研究也得出類似結果，蘋果消耗量增長了70%。

2014年，美國人吃掉了5.11億個切成片的新鮮蘋果，是十年前年消耗量的350%。2010年至2013年，蘋果的消耗總量每年增長13%。2013年，美國人均消耗蘋果17.5磅（約為7.9千克），為將近十年來最高水平。

“孩子們覺得，蘋果切成片后好吃多了。”上述研究的作者、行為經濟學教授大衛?賈斯特告訴《華盛頓郵報》。也許有人覺得蘋果原本吃起來就很方便，沒必要抱怨蘋果的形狀，但對換牙期或者在箍牙的孩子而言，啃蘋果就是麻煩。賈斯特還說：“看似小小的不便，影響卻非常大。”美國農業部（USDA）甚至建議，將水果“按各年齡人群的喜好切片供應。”

麥當勞比較先知先覺，早在2004年就開始賣切好的蘋果。美國蘋果行業協會U.S. Apple Association的監管與行業事務主管馬克?斯汀說，雖說學校午餐是吃蘋果的“主戰場”，但“麥當勞這樣的大公司也加入推動之后，不僅能促進銷售，還能切實提高公眾認識。”

然而，包裝好的切片蘋果可能給環境造成的影響也得考慮。切片后丟棄的蘋果減少，有助抑制食品浪費，但切片蘋果通常放在塑料袋里，導致塑料浪費增加。美國有機食品連鎖超市Whole Foods不久之前就因助長塑料浪費遭到批評。

切片蘋果目前只占蘋果總銷量的5%左右，但許多人預計，這一比例會很快上升。

譯者：Pessy

審校：夏林

It doesn’t take a group of researchers to figure out that kids prefer slices to whole apples, though it does take a group of researchers to calculate just how much they prefer them. The Washington Postreports that two studies found that apple consumption increased substantially when the fruit was served to school kids pre-sliced.

One study conducted in eight schools found that consumption increased by over 60% when apples were served sliced. A follow-up study looking at six schools found similar results, as apple consumption grew by 70%.

In 2014 Americans ate 511 million fresh sliced apples, a growth of about 350% from a decade earlier. Between 2010 and 2013, overall apple consumption grew by 13%; in 2013 Americans ate 17.5 pounds of apples per capita, the highest consumption had been in nearly 10 years.

“Sliced apples just make a lot more sense for kids,” study author and behavioral economics professor David Just told the Post. It may seem silly to think of eating an apple in its natural, whole form as inconvenient. But for kids with missing teeth or braces, it is. “It’s one of those circumstances where what seems like a really small inconvenience actually makes a huge difference,” Just added. The USDA even recommends that fruit be served in “age-appropriate pieces.”

McDonald’s noticed the convenience of pre-sliced apples earlier than most, and began selling them in 2004. Mark Seetin, director of regulatory and industry affairs for the U.S. Apple Association said that while school lunches were a “significant contributor” to increased consumption, “When a company as big as McDonald’s helps promote something, it not only boosts sales, but also really raises public awareness.”

However, we also have to consider the potential environmental impact of pre-packaged apple slices. It helps reduce food waste, because less apples are thrown away, but slices tend to be served in plastic bags, increasing plastic waste—something that Whole Foods WFM 1.67% was criticized for not too long ago.

Sliced apples still only account for about 5% of all apple sales, though many expect that number will soon increase.