Lunchroom makeover improves children’s diet

By Helen Albert, Senior medwireNews Reporter

Making fruits and vegetables more attractive in high school cafeterias and lunchrooms can help increase their consumption among students, say researchers.

Writing in The Journal of Pediatrics, Andrew Hanks (Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA) and colleagues report the results of a small exploratory study looking at the impact of a "smarter lunchroom makeover" that was implemented during the course of one afternoon in two high schools (grades 7-12) in New York.

When fruit and vegetable consumption among the students was compared, the team found that students were 13.4% and 23.0% more likely to take a fruit or vegetable, respectively, after than before the intervention.

The intervention took place in May 2011 and actual consumption was assessed by measuring tray waste at the two schools on two dates in March, two in May and two in June and calculating mean consumption of fruit and vegetables based on purchase records.

From these data, the researchers estimated that overall fruit consumption increased by 18% and vegetable consumption by 25% after the intervention and that students were 16% and 10% more likely to eat a whole serving of fruit or vegetables, respectively, after versus before the changes took place.

The changes involved improving the convenience of fruits and vegetables - for example by including them in a "Healthy convenience line" that only included sandwiches and fruits and vegetable sides and by putting fresh fruit next to the cash register. Appeal was also improved by including posters with attractive color photos of fruit and vegetable options on the menu and by displaying fruit in tiered stands or smart bowls.

The cafeteria staff also participated by verbally prompting the children to try fruit and vegetable options at several points in the food purchasing process.

"The changes took only 3 hours to implement and cost less than $ 50 [€ 33]," explain Hanks and team.

"With more than 31 million children participating in the National School Lunch Program, a low-cost, effective, and easily scalable intervention such as the smarter lunchroom makeover is a feasi

ble approach to addressing childhood obesity," they conclude.

Licensed from medwireNews with permission from Springer Healthcare Ltd. ©Springer Healthcare Ltd. All rights reserved. Neither of these parties endorse or recommend any commercial products, services, or equipment.

Comments

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
Post a new comment
Post

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.

You might also like...
Eating more beans leads to weight loss and better nutrition