Slicing boosts produce consumption for school-aged kids
Slicing boosts produce consumption for school-aged kids
Slicing fresh fruit and vegetables, such as apples, and serving them in ready-to-eat packages is more likely to entice school-aged kids to eat healthy than handing them whole apples, according to a new study.
The study supplied Las Vegas school children with either whole Red Delicious apples or packaged fresh apple slices treated with NatureSeal, the powdered product used to maintain color and crispness.
Students in an elementary school, middle school and low-income residential area were surveyed. For the first six-week period, kids were offered whole apples. For the next part of the study, kids were handed packaged apple slices, then were allowed to choose between whole apples or sliced fruit for the last six weeks.
Elementary students consumed significantly more sliced apples than whole fruits, and when given a choice, students in elementary and middle school preferred the ready-to-eat sliced apples. Middle school students were more willing to eat the apples whole. "The findings are not surprising," said Karen Murphy of Mantrose-Haeuser Co. Inc., the manufacturer of NatureSeal.
A similar study in the Sarasota, FL, school system showed an 80 percent increase in sliced apple sales when students were offered sliced apples treated with NatureSeal vs. whole. Both studies indicate that children in general prefer precut bite-size portions and 75 percent of the time opt not to eat a whole apple.
We've been saying this for a long time, said Ms. Murphy. While the government is providing whole apples for free under the School Lunch Program to help meet childrens nutritional requirements, the kids are not eating the whole apples, she said. Her mission is to tap into commodity dollars to help schools purchase NatureSeal or other similar products that could be used on sliced apples and, in turn, make the snacks more appealing to children.
The issue has caught the attention of the International Fresh-cut Produce Association, and IFPA President Jerry Welcome said that the group is just starting to talk about how to get more of these products in the school system.
There is probably a lot of opportunity for fresh-cut produce in schools, he said. The School Lunch Program feeds more than 28 million children each year.
We want to look at what has already been done first, in terms of studies, before coming out with something, said Mr. Welcome.
Prepared fresh-cut products offer advantages in terms of quality and convenience, but the group also wants to explore the added expense and logistical issues schools may face in buying fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, Mr. Welcome said.
The study supplied Las Vegas school children with either whole Red Delicious apples or packaged fresh apple slices treated with NatureSeal, the powdered product used to maintain color and crispness.
Students in an elementary school, middle school and low-income residential area were surveyed. For the first six-week period, kids were offered whole apples. For the next part of the study, kids were handed packaged apple slices, then were allowed to choose between whole apples or sliced fruit for the last six weeks.
Elementary students consumed significantly more sliced apples than whole fruits, and when given a choice, students in elementary and middle school preferred the ready-to-eat sliced apples. Middle school students were more willing to eat the apples whole. "The findings are not surprising," said Karen Murphy of Mantrose-Haeuser Co. Inc., the manufacturer of NatureSeal.
A similar study in the Sarasota, FL, school system showed an 80 percent increase in sliced apple sales when students were offered sliced apples treated with NatureSeal vs. whole. Both studies indicate that children in general prefer precut bite-size portions and 75 percent of the time opt not to eat a whole apple.
We've been saying this for a long time, said Ms. Murphy. While the government is providing whole apples for free under the School Lunch Program to help meet childrens nutritional requirements, the kids are not eating the whole apples, she said. Her mission is to tap into commodity dollars to help schools purchase NatureSeal or other similar products that could be used on sliced apples and, in turn, make the snacks more appealing to children.
The issue has caught the attention of the International Fresh-cut Produce Association, and IFPA President Jerry Welcome said that the group is just starting to talk about how to get more of these products in the school system.
There is probably a lot of opportunity for fresh-cut produce in schools, he said. The School Lunch Program feeds more than 28 million children each year.
We want to look at what has already been done first, in terms of studies, before coming out with something, said Mr. Welcome.
Prepared fresh-cut products offer advantages in terms of quality and convenience, but the group also wants to explore the added expense and logistical issues schools may face in buying fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, Mr. Welcome said.
