The prices of fast-food items have been rising steadily over the years — and some restaurants use a technique that entices people to pay more than perhaps they were planning to, a psychotherapist told Fox News Digital. 

The so-called "charm pricing" technique is why many menu items are not priced at full dollar amounts, Jonathan Alpert, a New York-based psychotherapist and author, told Fox News Digital.

"Our brains process numbers quickly and often emotionally, especially during purchasing decisions," Alpert said.

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When an item is priced at $9.99, "our minds latch onto the '9' as the anchor, associating it with a smaller cost, even if logically we know it's close to $10," he said. 

This is called the "left-digit effect," according to the food and culture website The Takeout. 

"This can trick you into feeling like an item is less expensive," according to The Takeout. 

"If you're buying three items priced at $5.99, your brain might immediately assume the total is $15, when in actuality it's closer to $18."

It added that people may feel they're "getting a bargain or a deal." 

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Aside from this "charm pricing," restaurants try other ways to get people to spend more money than they planned, Alpert said.  

These include offering an "appealing menu design or descriptive language that makes the purchase feel more worthwhile and indulgent," he said. 

Fox News Digital reached out to the National Restaurant Association, which declined to comment.

Fox News Digital also reached out to several fast-food chains seeking comment.

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Alpert noted that there are ways to combat the pressure to overspend.

"A helpful tip is to always round up," he said. "When you see $9.99, think of it as $10."

Doing this, he said, "can reduce the emotional impact of charm pricing and help you make more rational decisions."

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Another technique is to think through purchases carefully and make a decision to spend less impulsively. 

"Pause and ask yourself if the item is really worth the cost or if you're being swayed by how it's presented," Alpert said.

"Developing mindful spending habits can help you resist psychological tricks and make choices that align with your goals," he also said. 

New Orleans is the host city of this year's Super Bowl — and if you're throwing a party to celebrate the big game, you may want to incorporate some of the Big Easy's culinary flavors into your offerings.

Fox News Digital reached out to chefs in New Orleans for some dishes that are sure to score a touchdown at Super Bowl parties this year.

Whether you're rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs or the Philadelphia Eagles, adding these Creole seasonings, seafood dishes, spicy bites and more can send your party spread soaring and leave a mark on your guests.

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Here are four dishes to consider.

This comforting favorite can feed a crowd of football fans. 

With shrimp, blue crabs, shucked oysters, chopped vegetables, seafood stock and more, this dish was created by Donald Link, a James Beard Award-winning chef with the New Orleans-based Link Restaurant Group — which includes Herbsaint, Cochon, Cochon Butcher, Calcasieu, Pêche, La Boulangerie and Giannacan. 

"Growing up in southwest Louisiana, there was always a pot of gumbo simmering on Super Bowl Sunday," Link told Fox News Digital. 

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The gumbo can be prepared while you're watching the pregame coverage. 

Then, once the guests arrive — serve it up and catch their winning reactions. 

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Relying on sweet, sautéed onions and a rich sour cream-mascarpone base, this party dip is delicious and can be served with potato chips or spicy cheddar crackers, Link said. 

This dip comes together by combining ingredients such as onions, mascarpone, mayonnaise, sour cream and a spice blend found in most pantries. 

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"I grew up with an extremely large extended family, so you could always expect to see rooms covered in deviled eggs, boudin, chips and onion dip around the room and, of course, a lot of bowls of gumbo, especially after our annual football game with my uncles," Link recalled.

It's a tradition he's carried on for 37 years, he said.

"One year, I actually gave up Super Bowl tickets because I couldn't stand the idea of not making my gumbo and canceling the annual party."

Ryan Pearson, executive chef at Couvant inside The Eliza Jane hotel in New Orleans, told Fox News Digital that chicken wings with a Big Easy spin can be a party favorite. 

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"Chicken wings with a sauce made from reduced Crystal Hot Sauce, honey and butter are, simply put, delicious," Pearson said. 

"The dish is using beloved southern ingredients, so it feels elevated without being too much work." 

The southern twist uses Crystal Hot Sauce, which has been a New Orleans staple since 1923.

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"My mom used to say, 'Add Tabasco for heat. Add Crystal for flavor,'" the New Orleans chef said.

A change of play on a burger creates a cool party dish that pays tribute to the culinary fame of New Orleans. 

Mark Bucher, a "Taste of the NFL" chef, restaurateur and owner of Medium Rare in New Orleans, uses Andouille sausage to elevate this festive dish, he said. 

Some cocoa powder, cinnamon and hot picks like chili powder and cloves create a stirring flavor combination, said Bucher. 

The burger sauce can be blended from a few pantry condiments on hand — but the final play is adding Frito's on top for the crunch, he added. 

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"Chili is a tailgate classic but adding it to a burger turns up the flavor while keeping it fun and accessible," Bucher told Fox News Digital. 

"With the savory heat from the Andouille sausage and the tangy punch from the vinegar and spices, these burgers are built to hold up against a day of game-watching. It's that perfect mix of hearty, satisfying comfort and big flavor that makes it the ideal dish for a Super Bowl party."

The burger sauce also adds a bit of tang and crunch to balance the richness of the chili, he said.