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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Obesity: Meal or Fruit and Vegetable Snack Interventions to Increase Healthier Foods and Beverages Provided by Schools

About this resource:

Systematic Review

Source: The Guide to Community Preventive Services

Last Reviewed: December 2016

Workgroups: Nutrition and Weight Status Workgroup

The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends meal interventions and fruit and vegetable snack interventions to provide healthier foods and drinks in schools. These interventions include either policies that ensure school meals meet certain nutrition requirements or programs that provide fresh fruits and vegetables during lunches or snacks — or both of these components. CPSTF found that when these interventions are used, students eat more fruits and vegetables. In addition, CPSTF found that the interventions reduce obesity and overweight and are cost-effective.

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Objectives related to this resource (3)

Reduce the proportion of children and adolescents with obesity — NWS‑04
LHI label
Little or no detectable change
Increase fruit consumption by people aged 2 years and over — NWS‑06
Little or no detectable change
Increase vegetable consumption by people aged 2 years and older — NWS‑07
Little or no detectable change

Suggested Citation

1.

Guide to Community Preventive Services. (2016). Obesity: Meal or Fruit and Vegetable Snack Interventions to Increase Healthier Foods and Beverages Provided by Schools. Retrieved from https://www.thecommunityguide.org/findings/obesity-meal-fruit-vegetable-snack-interventions-increase-healthier-foods-beverages-schools