PROVO, UT - Want kids to eat their fruits and veggies? The secret might be a good game of dodgeball.
A study conducted by researchers with Brigham Young University and Cornell has revealed that kids who have recess before eating lunch consume 54% more fruits and vegetables than their counterparts.
“Recess is a pretty big deal for most kids. If you have kids choose between playing and eating their veggies, the time spent playing is going to win most of the time,” said Joe Price, the study's lead author and Economics Professor at Brigham Young University. “You just don’t want to set the opportunity cost of good behaviors too high.”
Cornell's David Just collaborated with Price for the study. Listen to him explain the duo's fascinating findings:
With a sample of 22,939 data points gathered over the course of 13 days in four separate schools, the researchers concluded that recess made all the difference. In addition to the 54% increase in produce consumption, Price and Just also noted a 45% increase in the number of children consuming at least one serving of fruits and veggies. As for the children that had to wait to have recess? Produce consumption actually decreased, according to Brigham Young.
Given the nutritional impact of produce consumption, especially for young people, the importance of work like Price and Just's cannot be understated. As the researchers themselves noted, “increased fruit and vegetable consumption in young children can have positive long term health effects. Additionally, decreasing waste of fruits and vegetables is important for schools and districts that are faced with high costs of offering healthier food choices.”
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to bring you the latest news and analysis related to the fresh produce industry.
