School best source of fruits and vegetables for low-income kids

LEBANON, N.H., Dec. 11 (UPI) -- For many low-income children, the school cafeteria is their most reliable source of fruits and vegetables -- the kinds of foods public health officials say is crucial a young person's diet and to warding off America's obesity and diabetes epidemic.

A new study by researchers at Dartmouth found that children, while in school, eat fruits and vegetables in similar amounts and with similar frequency regardless of income level. But for low income students, fruit and vegetable intake improved at school, when compared to diets at home. The opposite was true for high income children, who tend to eat fewer fruits and vegetables when school is in session as compared to summertime diets.

"This study confirms that the national and regional school food programs provide an important source of fruits and vegetables for low income adolescents, which we know is a key indicator of dietary quality," Dartmouth researcher Meghan Longacre said in a press release. "Schools clearly have a role in providing healthy foods to children. Our data suggest that the most vulnerable students are benefitting the most from school food."

The study confirms previous research that showed high income children eat more fruits and vegetables overall. But the new Dartmouth study is one of the first to hone in on the role school meals play in mitigating such discrepancies.

"Innovation in school food offerings for kids has emphasized increased consumption of fruits and vegetables and it's working for low income kids," Longacre said, "but the evidence shows that a different strategy may be needed to have the same positive effect on high income kids."

The research was published this week in the journal Preventative Medicine.