Answer:
Eating pixie sticks is the independent variable.
Step-by-step explanation:
The independent variable of an experiment is that variable that does not depend on or is influenced by another variable. The independent variable exists to influence and it is through it that the dependent variable shows a variation in size, speed, quality, among other characteristics.
Nicole believes that children's reading speed is influenced by their habit of eating pixie sticks. As stated above, the independent variable is one that influences another variable, so the independent variable in Nicole's experiment is "eating pixie sticks".