Smart Snacks Initiative shows kids like healthier foods!

Great news!  A new study* conducted by the Michigan State University shows that the new school nutrition policy is working.  This is great news as we head back to school after the holiday break.

The study showed that schools that made changes to their breakfast and lunch programs by offering more healthy food choices are seeing positive results in kids food choices.  Children are selecting healthier foods, eating them and thus, improving their overall diet!

They looked at 55 schools (1176 seventh graders) and used the USDA guidelines to analyze the Smart Snacks initiative

The schools participating in new nutrition guidelines for snacks showed a:

• 26% increase in fruit consumption
• 30% increase in whole grains consumption
• 14% increase in vegetable consumption
• a significant increase in foods high in fiber, calcium and vitamins A and 

Key changes that schools did as part of the Smart Snack initiative:

• increase amount of healthier food options
• increased the marketing of those healthier foods
• decreased the marketing of unhealthy foods

What we have learned:

This is something we can all learn from and apply to our home environment.

• Clean out your cupboards and fridge of unhealthy food choices
• Increase the fruits and vegetables and whole grains foods.  
• Have them easily accessible and already prepared to eat. (like washing and cutting up fruit)
• Be the marketeer for healthy food choices by role modeling how much you enjoy healthy food choices
• make healthy foods fun at the table