by Jaime Herndon

Lots of us grew up with recess after lunch – but a new study has found that kids are more likely to eat their fruits and vegetables if they have recess before their lunch.

The study focused on elementary school kids in Orem, Utah, in the U.S. National School Lunch Program. The Lunch Program, which is federally funded, mandates that children choose a fruit and vegetable side with their lunch. The children in the group that had recess after lunch were in more of a hurry to finish their lunches so they could play, and often dumped their sides in the trash in their haste to go to recess. The children who had recess first came to lunch with more of an appetite, and were less rushed to finish their meal, which led to them being more likely to eat more of their food, including their healthy sides. Schools that switched their recess to before lunchtime showed an increased student consumption of fruits and vegetables by 54%, while schools that kept recess after lunch showed no improvement in fruit and vegetable consumption, and actually showed a decrease.

When spending time with nieces and nephews, why not go to the park or do an activity before eating a healthy lunch or dinner, instead of eating a meal first, and then doing an activity? They’ll be less distracted and more likely to eat their meal, instead of rushing through to get to the activity. Besides, it will work up an appetite for all of you!

Photo: Worakit Sirijinda
Published: January 14, 2105