The Power Of Produce In Back-To-School Nutrition
The beginning of a new school year isn’t just about hitting the books, it’s also an ideal time to emphasize the importance of healthy eating habits for everyone — from students to parents. A balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables is key to fueling success in both the classroom and in daily life.
A breakfast rich in fruits, vegetables, protein and whole grains is key for young minds. This combination provides the brain with essential nutrients that enhance focus, memory and academic performance. The antioxidants and vitamins found in fruits and vegetables also play a significant role in mood regulation, helping to stabilize emotions and reduce anxiety, which is especially important for students as a new school year begins.
Carrying this nutritional balance into lunch is equally important. Incorporating produce at lunchtime sustains energy levels, preventing the dreaded afternoon slump to help children stay alert and engaged throughout the day.
Early food preferences, shaped during childhood, have a lasting impact on health and well-being. Research from the International Fresh Produce Association highlights that while toddlers often meet recommended fruit and vegetable intake, this trend declines as children age. This highlights the continued need for consistent efforts to promote produce consumption at all ages during all meals and snacks. This is where everyone plays a role in feeding children during their developmental years.
Whether you’re prepping breakfast or packing lunches at home, a retail dietitian planning store promotions, a school nutrition professional crafting menus for thousands of children, a campus dietitian ensuring balanced dining hall options or a parent fueling your family amidst countless afterschool activities — this is our collective opportunity to make fruits and vegetables daily staples that foster healthy eating patterns that extend beyond the classroom and into lifelong habits.
School nutrition leaders play a pivotal role in ensuring that every child has access to balanced meals that meet nutritional guidelines, support cognitive development and maintain energy levels throughout the school day. The countless K-12 foodservice operations across the country are often the “largest restaurant in town” and these leaders should be celebrated for the creative and delicious work they are doing to feed our future.
School meals are carefully crafted to provide the necessary nutrients children need to thrive academically and physically. Schools are making it easier than ever for students to incorporate fruits and vegetables into their daily routine, every time they eat — during school breakfast, at lunch in the cafeteria, in the school greenhouse or garden, and in afterschool snacks to take on-the-go. These repeated exposures to produce at school encourage children to embrace fruits and vegetables at home, beyond school hours.
While back-to-school nutrition is crucial for younger students, it’s equally important for college students navigating new independence. These young adults face unique challenges in maintaining healthy eating habits, making continued nutritional education vital during these formative years. As a former campus dietitian, I’ve seen how busy schedules and social pressures make it even harder for college students to choose healthy options. There’s a real opportunity to continue nutrition education at universities through experiential learning, like cooking classes or sampling seasonal produce in dining halls.
Whether you are talking to consumers directly online, creating a retail promotion of your own, or responsible for plant-inspired menu creations at a foodservice establishment, we all have a role to play in helping consumers make healthy choices during this busy time.
