Study shows that serving grapes leads to reduced plate waste in schools
A recent study by Texas A&M shows that serving grapes with a meal may reduce overall plate waste from children. Plate waste is an ongoing concern for school nutrition programs, since students only gain nutrients from the foods they actually consume. The study measured food thrown in the trash on days grapes were served, and compared those results with food thrown in the trash when grapes were not served. Results from this comparison revealed that on days when grapes were served as part of the meal, kids ate more of the other healthy items on their plates as well, suggesting that grapes may be a “gateway” to consuming more fruits and vegetables.