Study shows students choose healthier meals at school

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recently released a study called “The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act Improved the Nutritional Quality of the Meals Selected by Students and Did Not Reduce School Lunch Participation Rates."

“This study shows that students are choosing healthier meals largely because of the increased availability and variety of fruits and vegetables in school meals," United Fresh Produce Association CEO Tom Stenzel said. "These results reinforce the need to continue, not roll back, the good work going on in the schools across the country which includes offering plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to the more than 30 million kids who rely on school meals every day. Healthy school meals help children make half their plate fruits and vegetables. I urge Congress to maintain the strong fruit and vegetable standards in school meals and they work to reauthorize the child nutrition programs.”

The United Fresh Produce Association provides resources and expertise to companies seeking to influence government policy. The association is comprised of growers, shippers, fresh-cut processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, food service operators, industry suppliers and allied associations.