Study: Pictures Of Vegtables Encourage Kids To Eat More Vegetables

A research letter released by the Journal of the American Medial Association says that placing photographs of vegetables on the lunch trays of elementary-school students significantly increases not only the number of children who consume vegetables, but also the quantity of vegetables they’re likely to consume. The pictures, which featured images of green beans and carrots, were placed in two separate lunch tray compartments. The number of children who took green beans jumped from 6.3 percent to 14.8 percent, while the percentage of kids who ate carrots spiked from 11.6 percent to 36.8 percent. Researchers believe the experiment worked because the pictures played on kids’ sensitivity to societal norms, as “seeing the photos in the compartments gives kids the impression that “this must be where everyone puts their vegetables,” and that everyone is eating them[.]” As part of new USDA rules recently unveiled by First Lady Michelle Obama, schools are obligated to offer students more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains as part of their lunches. — Fatima Najiy