Study shows kids eating more fruits, veggies
New federal standards launched in 2012 that require schools to offer healthier meals have led to increased fruit and vegetable consumption, according to a new study from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers. The study, the first to examine school food consumption both before and after the standards went into effect, contradicts criticisms that the new standards have increased food waste. “There is a push from some organizations and lawmakers to weaken the new standards. We hope the findings, which show that students are consuming more fruits and vegetables, will discourage those efforts,” said lead author Juliana Cohen, research fellow in the Department of Nutrition at HSPH. Some 32 million students eat school meals every day; for many low-income students, up to half their daily energy intake comes from school meals. Under the previous dietary guidelines, school breakfasts and lunches were high in sodium and saturated fats and low in whole...