A shopping list may lead to impulse buying

RALEIGH, N.C., March 8 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers have found writing out a grocery list before going shopping could lead to sinful and unhealthy food choices.

Researchers from Duke University, the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Florida reported that trying to recall what food options are available by writing a shopping list at home uses mental resources that might otherwise be used to counter impulsive choices.

Having to come up with options from memory led to more impulsive decisions, the researchers found. It's called "memory-based" decision-making; "stimulus-based" decision-making occurs when the consumer buys what they see in the store.

The study, published in the Journal of Consumer Research, suggests a person may opt for a sinful dessert like cheesecake over a healthy alternative like a fruit salad.

"We find that consumers who must generate options from memory are more likely to select fun, hedonistic, and sinful options over sensible options or 'appropriate' options," Yuval Rottenstreich of Duke University said in a statement.