Kellogg survey: Nine of 10 want healthy school lunch
August 18, 2015 |12:21 AM
Nearly nine out of 10 Americans support the school meals nutrition standards under the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, according to a poll commissioned by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and released today.
The poll showed that:
“Our survey found that people in the U.S. overwhelmingly support strong nutrition standards and believe school meals are healthier and on the right track because of these standards,” said La June Montgomery Tabron, president and CEO of the Kellogg Foundation.
“Today, 67 percent of Americans say the nutritional quality of food served in public school cafeterias is excellent or good, which is up 41 percent from a national survey we conducted in 2010, before the standards were adopted,” she said.
“We’re learning that kids’ need for water is often overlooked or taken for granted,” Montgomery Tabron said. "It shouldn’t be. Good hydration improves cognitive function, and recommending water as the beverage of choice can help in the fight against childhood obesity."
The survey was conducted by LJR Custom Strategies of 1,200 randomly selected adults across the U.S. using landline or mobile phones from May 17-27, 2015. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percent.
The poll showed that:
- 86 percent support today’s school nutrition standards.
- 88 percent support government-funded farm to school programs.
- 90 surveyed said the Dietary Guidelines for Americans should promote water as a preferred beverage choice.
- 91 percent said ensuring kids have access to safe drinking water and encouraging them to consume more water is the No. 1 or a high priority for improving the health and well-being of students.
- 84 percent said they strongly or partly agree that sustainable agriculture should be part of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
“Our survey found that people in the U.S. overwhelmingly support strong nutrition standards and believe school meals are healthier and on the right track because of these standards,” said La June Montgomery Tabron, president and CEO of the Kellogg Foundation.
“Today, 67 percent of Americans say the nutritional quality of food served in public school cafeterias is excellent or good, which is up 41 percent from a national survey we conducted in 2010, before the standards were adopted,” she said.
“We’re learning that kids’ need for water is often overlooked or taken for granted,” Montgomery Tabron said. "It shouldn’t be. Good hydration improves cognitive function, and recommending water as the beverage of choice can help in the fight against childhood obesity."
The survey was conducted by LJR Custom Strategies of 1,200 randomly selected adults across the U.S. using landline or mobile phones from May 17-27, 2015. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percent.
