A Little Knowledge Is a Healthy Thing

High-school students who are provided nutrition information in cafeterias are more likely to make healthy food choices than those who do not have access to such guidelines, says a study published in The Journal of Child Nutrition & Management (spring 2005).

Researchers from Penn State University who studied student eating habits at six different high schools found teens had a better quality of diet when nutrition facts were posted near the cafeteria counter. The researchers concluded that such information should be made available to all students through the 12th grade. Currently, schools in the United States are not required to post nutrition facts on campus, although many schools mail this information home to parents or post it on a website.