Promoting healthier eating habits among school kids by leveraging potato shapes

29 Nov 2023 — Researchers suggest pairing vegetables with kid-friendly potato forms, such as potatoes in the shape of smiley faces, to increase children’s vegetable consumption. While the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that children aged three to 18 consume 2.5 to three cups of vegetables daily, most school-aged children only eat one cup daily. 

The research team evaluated how different potato presentations and preparations impacted the amount of vegetables kids consumed in a cafeteria. Serving potatoes shaped as faces in the same bowl as peas and carrots led to a measurable increase in total vegetables consumed.