Kids eat more fruit when convenient
Published 5:00 am Friday, May 17, 2013
When fruit is offered in convenient, easy-to-eat ways, kids eat more of it, according to a recent study by Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab.
Researchers gave commercial food slicers to eight elementary schools. When kids asked for apples, the cafeteria staff sliced the apples into six pieces.
Results showed an increase in fruit sales of 61 percent. Kids said the sliced apples were easier to eat (especially the kids who were either missing teeth or who had braces.) Some kids also said eating a whole fruit was unattractive in front of other kids. This was particularly mentioned by older girls.
A followup study involving middle schools showed similar results. Three schools given food slicers showed an increase in fruit sales of 71 percent. Kids were also found to eat more of the apple when it was sliced, with 73 percent eating more than half of the apple.