Free is black magic for parents at chain restaurants

It's not of Muggle born, says psychology professor Barry Schwartz, in a USA Today article about "Kids Eat Free" deals at restaurants, "free is magic."

To be clear: this is not Disney-style fairy tale magic. Schwartz follows up by saying these deals at restaurants such as IHOP, Fazoli's and West Coast chain El Torito could "seduce people into eating out when they shouldn't."

Most of the deals offer free meals for children under 12 during certain slow days -- Mondays and Tuesdays are popular options for local restaurants in Portland where I live -- and they nearly always require the purchase of an adult entree.