10.15.2013 Salad bars make sense for schools! They are a fun and tasty way for students to choose their fruits and veggies while meeting the new nutrition requirements for school meals. The hallmarks of salad bars (raw produce, a variety of food items, and self-service) may raise concerns about safety, affordability, and practicality. Fortunately, research and experience show that school salad bars can be a safe, cost-effective way to increase fruit and vegetable intake while also improving the appeal of school lunch.
If your school already has a salad bar, this week is a great time to show your appreciation for it, perhaps through a quick email or phone call. If your school does not have a salad bar, then now is a great time to advocate one! To help you do this, we have created a “Salad Bars in Schools” fact sheet highlighting the benefits and feasibility of salad bars in schools.
Among their many benefits, school salad bars can:
- Increase the amount and variety of fruits and vegetables that students eat
- Improve the image of the school meal program in the eyes of the community, which increases participation
- Help ensure school meals meet new federal requirements to provide more vegetables
Learn more about school salad bars in our fact sheet PDF
Check out Let’s Move Salad Bars to School link
