Evaluation of the Use of a Self-service Fruit and Vegetable Bar on the Consumption and Plate Waste

Abstract

LEARNING OUTCOME: To determine if use of a self-service fruit and vegetable increases consumption and decreases plate waste of fruits and vegetables by school children.The goal of this study was to determine if the use of a self-serve fruit and vegetable bar would increase fruit and vegetable consumption and decrease plate waste by elementary school children. For a period of tour days, the meal trays of 334 students in grades 4, 5, and 7 in two elementary schools were visually evaluated to determine the amount of fruits and vegetables consumed and wasted from the service line and the self-service bar.In a comparison of statistical means, there was a significant difference in vegetable consumption between the service line (1.50 of a standard portion which equalled 4.00) and self-service bar [1.94] with students eating more vegetables from the self-service bar. Vegetable consumption from both serving methods was below the standard portion offered. The students also ate significantly more fruit from the self-service bar [4.79] than from the service line [3.00]; fruit consumption from the self-service bar was above the standard portion offered. The difference in vegetable waste between the service line and self-service bar was significant with less vegetable waste from the self-service bar [1.40] than from the service line [1.70]. The students also wasted significantly less fruit from the self-service bar [0.58] than from the service line [0.91]. Grade level did not significantly affect vegetable and fruit consumption or fruit waste with either serving method.The results indicate that the use of a self-service fruit and vegetable bar significantly increases both fruit and vegetable consumption and decreases plate waste. It was fruit consumption that benefitted the most from the use of the self-service bar with more than a standard portion consumed, while vegetable consumption continued to be less than the standard portion offered.