Implementing Salad Bars in Public Schools: A Survey of School Food Service, Parents, And Students (Foodservice Update: Healthy Tips and Recipes for Institutions from the Vegetarian Resource Group‪)‬

IT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT CONSUMING FRUITS and vegetables is good for your health. Dr. Lorelei DiSogra, Vice President of Nutrition and Health at the United Fresh Produce Association, said, "Research has shown that children significantly increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables when given a variety of choices in a school salad bar. When offered multiple fruit and vegetable choices, children respond by trying new items, incorporating greater variety into their diets, and increasing their daily consumption of fruits and vegetables" (United Fresh Campaign, 2010). So, why is it then that many schools do not include a daily salad bar as an option for their students? The Vegetarian Resource Group has spent many months interviewing school nutrition services staff, teachers, parents, and students across the nation. After speaking to several persons involved in school nutrition, VRG found that there are numerous factors that prohibit some schools from offering a salad bar. One of the major reasons is that schools have to follow strict USDA guidelines as to what they must include in their daily lunches. For example, according to Walnut Valley Unified School Nutrition Services in California, middle school students are required to have 2 ounces of protein in addition to vegetables and a milk serving. Furthermore, many of those interviewed shared common complaints about having a salad bar in schools: