School Nutrition Services (SNS) Research

Publication: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

Date Published: May 2025

Reference:

Adams, M. A., Todd, M., McEntee, M. L., Yu, T.-Y., Ohri-Vachaspati, P., Richards, T. J., & Bruening, M. (2025). A cluster randomized factorial trial of school-lunch salad bars and marketing on elementary students’ objectively measured fruit and vegetable consumption. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 22, 58. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-025-01758-z

Key Takeaways: An Arizona State University–led study found that elementary school salad bars significantly increased students’ fruit and vegetable consumption. By comparing lunch periods before and after salad bar implementation across multiple schools, researchers observed that students served themselves approximately twice as many fruits and vegetables when salad bars were available. The study also found that pairing salad bars with simple nutrition marketing strategies—such as brightly colored posters and table tents highlighting fruits and vegetables—further increased intake. These findings suggest that salad bars, particularly when combined with supportive promotion, can be an effective tool for improving dietary quality in school lunch settings.