Wasting Billions: America's School Lunch Debacle
Children Consume Nearly 54% More Fruits and Vegetables When Given Recess Preceding Lunch
Every year, schools across the US are hemorrhaging a mind-boggling amount of food.
The USDA has reported that American school cafeterias throw away an eye-watering $1.2 billion worth of food annually, with a significant chunk being fruits and vegetables intended to fuel students' minds.
But imagine if a simple tweak to the schedule could not only slash this waste but significantly bolster student nutrition?
New research from Brigham Young University (BYU) suggests just that. By flipping recess and lunch, schools could see:
- More than half of students consuming 54% more fruits and vegetables
- 45% more students eating at least one serving of produce
- A substantial reduction in cafeteria food waste
For a problem that has left educators, parents, and policymakers scratching their heads for decades, the fix seems disarmingly straightforward-yet most schools are still getting it so wrong.
Playtime verses Nutrition: A No-Brainer Battle
Children love recess.
When given a choice between sitting down to a plate of vegetables or running wild with their friends, it's a no-contest. "Recess is a pretty big deal for most kids," explains Joe Price, an economics professor at BYU and lead researcher on the study. "If you have kids choose between playing and eating their veggies, the time spent playing is going to win most of the time."
With the majority of American schools scheduling recess post-lunch, the outcome is predictable. When lunchtime arrives, students are already restless and raring to go outside.
The result?
- They scarf down their meals or eat just enough to quiet their hunger.
- Nourishing options like fruits and vegetables get overlooked in favor of quicker, more appetizing choices.
- Mountains of food get chucked out instead of eaten.
Compare this with countries like Australia and Canada, who have predominantly adopted the mid-morning recess model. Their students waste significantly less food. So why are U.S. schools stuck in their ways?
The Study that Proves Ignorance is Costing Us
To determine the impact of recess timing on student nutrition, the BYU researchers carried out an experiment across seven elementary schools in Utah.
Here's the lowdown:
- Three schools moved recess to before lunch.
- Four schools kept to the status quo, with recess post-lunch.
- Over 14 days in 2014, researchers tracked the eating habits of 22,939 students.
The results were dramatic. Students who had recess before lunch:
- Ate 54% more fruits and vegetables than their peers.
- Were 45% more likely to eat at least one serving of produce.
- Threw away significantly less food, making cafeteria operations more budget-friendly.
Meanwhile, in the schools that kept recess after lunch, consumption of fruits and vegetables slid during the study period.
These findings, published in the journal Preventive Medicine, suggest that a low-cost, high-impact change could revolutionize both student health and school food budgets.
So, why aren't schools jumping on the bandwagon?
Schools: Proudly Moving Forward... Backward
Given the compelling evidence, one might expect schools to be in a rush to implement this cost-free, high-impact shift. But alas, that hasn't happened.
There are several reasons for this bizarre resistance. Some school administrators and cafeteria managers bum against changing schedules for various reasons:
- "We've always done it this way." Many school schedules have been entrenched for decades, making change ** intimidating**.
- Worries about post-recess behavior. Some educators fret that students will be too rowdy and hyper after recess, disrupting the flow of lunchtime.
- Logistical hang-ups. Schools with limited cafeteria space worry about efficiently managing meal times if recess shifts.
But these concerns are mostly unfounded. Schools that have implemented the change report no significant behavioral issues, while students return calmer, more focused, and ready to eat after a pre-lunch recess.
And most crucially, the evidence has spoken: keeping recess post-lunch is actively undermining student health and wasting millions in taxpayer dollars.
So, what's preventing schools from making the switch?
Parents, Teachers, and Students: Time to Take Matters into Our Own Hands
No matter if you're a parent, teacher, or student, advocating for a pre-lunch recess is a simple yet powerful way to improve student nutrition.
Here's how to take charge:
- Approach your school principal or district leaders. Share the findings from BYU's study, emphasizing the potential cost savings and health benefits.
- Suggest a trial run. Schools can try a short-term test period, one semester, to gauge the impact firsthand.
- Spark grassroots support. Encourage more voices advocating for this change-the more, the merrier.
- Learn from schools that have already made the switch. Plenty of schools have reported improvements in nutrition, waste reduction, and smoother lunchroom operations as a result of scheduling recess before lunch.
A No-Cost Solution with Massive Returns
In an era where school budgets are strained and child nutrition is a growing concern, a cost-free solution is staring us in the face.
Shifting recess to before lunch could:
- Reduce food waste
- Enhance students' eating habits
- Save schools money
- Improve student focus and behavior
When it comes to solving complex social issues, we need look no further.
If only all of society's problems were this easy to solve.
Sources:
- Brigham Young University
- Preventive Medicine (Journal)
- USDA Food Waste Reports
Science plays a significant role in the health-and-wellness aspect of children's lives, particularly their nutritional needs. Education-and-self-development also comes into play as new research suggests a simple tweak in school schedules could bolster student nutrition significantly. By flipping recess and lunch, schools could reduce food waste, improve students' consumption of fruits and vegetables, and enhance their focus and behavior. This low-cost, high-impact change could revolutionize both student health and school food budgets, as demonstrated by the findings from Brigham Young University's study published in the journal Preventive Medicine.
