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

For many low-income children in the school cafeteria is their most reliable source of fruits and vegetables - the types of food, public health officials say is the essential nutrition for the young and for the prevention obesity and the epidemic of diabetes in America.

A new study by researchers from Dartmouth found that children in school, eat fruits and vegetables, regardless of income level in similar quantities and with similar frequency. But for low fruit and vegetable-income students in the school improvement compared to diets at home. The opposite was the case for high-income children who eat less fruit and vegetables, when school is in session over the summer tend plans.

"This study confirms that national and regional school feeding programs an important source of fruits and vegetables for low-income youth, we know, is an important indicator of the quality of the food," researchers at Dartmouth Meghan Longacre, said in a press release. "the schools have a clear role in the provision of healthy food for children. Our data suggest that the most vulnerable students have benefited most from the food to the school. "

The study confirms previous research that children in high-income to eat more fruits and vegetables showed total. But the new study Dartmouth is one of the first to raise the role of school meals in mitigating games such deviations.

"Innovation in school food offerings for children highlighted the consumption of fruits and vegetables has increased, and that is to work for low-income children," Longacre said, "but the evidence shows that a different strategy may be necessary to have the same positive effect on children have high income. "