Want School Kids to Eat More Vegetables? Don’t Forget about the Power of Potatoes on the Plate

 A new study published in Nutrients illustrates how potatoes may play a beneficial role in encouraging school aged children to eat more vegetables. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans currently recommends children ages 3-18 consume between 2.5-3 cups of vegetables per day to meet their total vegetable goals. Yet, the average school-age child eats only about 1 cup daily. “That’s why we wanted to learn more about how school meal offerings may influence kids’ eating behavior and possibly encourage greater vegetable consumption,” explains principal investigator Gene Ahlborn, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science, Brigham Young University.

The study found children ate more total vegetables when peas and carrots were served in combination with potato shaped smiley faces, suggesting that pairing kid-friendly forms of potatoes with other vegetables can promote greater overall vegetable consumption. Potato shaped faces are a potato product in the shape of happy faces, made with mashed potatoes and sunflower oil to create a slightly crunchy exterior and soft interior.

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