The answer to your question is: no. You’re not going to get an interaction that is simpler, easier, faster, more accurate, and more unambiguous than that of a check box. Any alternative to a check box would likely cause confusion. For example, users expect button-like controls to execute some action, and thus may hesitate to select an “I invest in restaurants” button because it may start something they don’t want (e.g., navigate to a long form, install a Restaurant Manager tool bar in the browser). Also, unlike a check box, a button does not appear inherently undoable, which can lead to anxiety and hesitation.
Frankly, you’re asking too much from a binary control. The average user is not interested or delighted by controls. They’re interested and delighted by what the controls do for them. If you’re concerned about the emotional engagement of your users, then re-think your content. Make it clearer how the service you’re offering is going to benefit the user –that’s what they find interesting and delightful. That matters more than a new kind of control (or exclamation points in the control’s caption, for that matter).
If you’ve done all you can to present an interesting and delightful service, the other thing you can do is make the graphic design consistent with service. For example, the form’s colors and imagery could borrow references to restaurants: you could frame the form with a red-and-white checked border to suggest a bistro’s tablecloth (or maybe it suggests Purina Cat Chow), or maybe instead of check marks appearing in the check boxes on selection, a ladle appears (or maybe not).
Use visual design to reinforce what the content honestly offers. Trying "hype up" a service beyond what it actually offers is just going to make you look like a fraud.
