How do you get middle schoolers to eat more fruit? Give them smoothies
At lunchtime in rural Maine middle schools, University of Maine researchers stood at two points in the cafeteria.
Researchers at the University of Maine discovered that offering frozen fruit smoothies during lunch at rural Maine middle schools increased the amount of fruit students selected and consumed while reducing waste. They monitored trays at two points in the cafeteria, capturing images of leftovers to track food waste. The study found that students often did not take fruit or only partially ate it, leading to the development of a four-part smoothie and nutrition education program called HEALTHY.
The program was designed based on feedback from middle school students, who wanted to have a say in how it was created. The smoothies were tested at experimental schools and compared to other schools, resulting in higher fruit selection and consumption among students who participated in the smoothie program. Researchers noted that students were more likely to try the smoothies and take them home, indicating they were more engaged in the process.
This approach could potentially help change federal school meal rules that currently make it difficult for schools to regularly offer smoothies.
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