News - News releases
March 12, 2010
Annual celebration encourages school children to eat more green vegetables
HERSHEY, Pa. – Research has found that less than one quarter of school-age children eat green vegetables; to reverse that trend schools throughout the commonwealth will celebrate Go for the Greens on Wednesday, March 17 and promote green veggies as good food and good fun!
Go for the Greens is an annual program led by the Center for Nutrition and Activity Promotion at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. During the 2008/2009 school year, more than 575 schools engaged 200,000 students in Go for the Greens activities such as tastings, trivia contests, lunch menu offerings featuring green vegetables, recipe competitions, produce pentathlons, and many other produce-based games and activities.
A recent survey from the Produce for a Better Health Foundation reported vegetable consumption has dropped six percent in the last year. The survey points to the nation's current economic recession for the negative impact on mother's attitudes and behaviors regarding fruits and vegetables, especially in lower income households. According to the same survey, 90 percent of Americans consume fewer fruits and vegetables than the recommended daily amount, which ranges from two to six and a half cups each day1.
"Fruits and vegetables are natural fast foods," commented Donna Kephart, interim executive director of the Center. "Not only do they have essential vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients for good health; but when substituted for high-calorie foods, increased consumption can help protect children against overweight and obesity."
This year's Go for the Greens celebration is funded in part by PA Preferred, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
1Produce for Better Health Foundation Survey, 2009: http://www.pbhfoundation.org.
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The Center for Nutrition and Activity Promotion at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital is committed to improving physical activity and healthy eating behaviors for youth and families across the Commonwealth by delivering programs and activities in schools; promoting healthy behaviors; and conducting research to identify and disseminate innovative solutions for addressing childhood obesity. For more information about the Center, please visit www.nrgbalance.org.
“The stellar interaction between the Center and administrators at six PA public schools led to a very successful week-long health ride. I enjoyed working with the Center and would highly recommend them as partners in any future projects.”
