Serving vegetables first: A strategy to increase vegetable consumption in elementary school cafeterias

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Pediatric Health
• Public Health Interventions

Background:

• Low vegetable consumption in the U.S. is a public health concern.
• Childhood eating patterns often persist into adulthood.
• Establishing healthy habits early is crucial for long-term health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if serving vegetables before other meal components increases vegetable consumption in elementary school children.
• To assess the impact of a 'vegetables-first' approach on overall vegetable intake during school lunch.

Main Methods:

• Kindergarten through fifth-grade students were offered a small portion of raw bell peppers before receiving their main lunch.
• Vegetable consumption was measured by quantifying the amount of vegetables eaten by each child.
• Students had the option to take additional vegetables or decline them.

Main Results:

• Serving vegetables first significantly increased the proportion of students consuming vegetables.
• The majority of vegetables consumed during the intervention came from the initial 'vegetables-first' portion.
• While total vegetable intake per student remained low, the intervention demonstrated a significant increase.

Conclusions:

• Offering vegetables before other meal components is a practical strategy to enhance vegetable consumption in elementary schools.
• Long-term implementation could positively influence children's eating habits and overall health.
• This approach shows promise for improving dietary patterns and mitigating chronic disease risk factors.