Kids Eat 54% More Fruits And Vegetables if They Have Recess Before Lunch

Every year, schools across the U.S. waste a staggering amount of food.

The USDA estimates that American school cafeterias throw away $1.2 billion worth of food annually, much of it fruits and vegetables that were meant to nourish students.

But what if a simple schedule adjustment—one that costs nothing—could slash this waste and significantly improve student nutrition?

New research from Brigham Young University (BYU) suggests exactly that. By shifting recess to before lunch, schools could see:

54% more fruits and vegetables consumed
45% more students eating at least one serving of produce
A drastic reduction in cafeteria food waste

For a problem that has frustrated educators, parents, and policymakers for decades, the solution might be shockingly straightforward—yet most schools are still doing it wrong.

Why Kids Are Choosing Play Over Nutrition

It’s no secret that kids love recess.

Given the choice between sitting and eating their vegetables or running outside with friends, the decision is obvious: play wins every time.

“Recess is a pretty big deal for most kids,” says Joe Price, an economics professor at BYU and the lead researcher on the study.

“If you have kids choose between playing and eating their veggies, the time spent playing is going to win most of the time.”

And that’s exactly what’s happening in school cafeterias across the U.S.

Right now, the majority of American schools schedule recess after lunch.

This means that when lunchtime rolls around, students are already restless and eager to get outside.

The result?

They rush through their meals or eat just enough to satisfy their hunger.
Nutritious foods—like fruits and vegetables—are ignored in favor of quicker, more appealing options.
Huge amounts of food are thrown away instead of eaten.

Meanwhile, countries like Australia and Canada have largely adopted the mid-morning recess model, and their students waste significantly less food.

So why are U.S. schools still getting it backwards?

The Study That Proves Schools Are Making a Huge Mistake

To test the impact of recess timing on student nutrition, the BYU researchers conducted an experiment across seven elementary schools in Utah.

Here’s how it worked:

Three schools moved recess to before lunch.
Four schools kept their traditional schedule, with recess after lunch.
Researchers tracked the eating habits of 22,939 students over 14 days in 2014.

The results were striking.

Students who had recess before lunch:

Ate 54% more fruits and vegetables than their peers.
Were 45% more likely to eat at least one serving of produce.
Wasted far less food, making cafeteria operations more cost-effective.

Meanwhile, in the schools that kept recess after lunch, fruit and vegetable consumption actually declined during the study period.

These findings, published in the journal Preventive Medicine, suggest that a simple, no-cost adjustment could dramatically improve both student health and school food budgets.

Yet, despite the overwhelming benefits, most schools haven’t made the switch.

Why Schools Are Stubbornly Resisting Change

You might think that with such compelling evidence, schools would be rushing to implement this zero-cost, high-impact change.

But that hasn’t been the case.

Many school administrators and cafeteria managers resist changing schedules for a few key reasons:

“We’ve always done it this way.” Many school schedules have been in place for decades, and change—even simple change—can be met with hesitation.
Concerns about post-recess behavior. Some educators worry that students return from recess too energized, making it harder to settle down and eat lunch calmly.
Logistical issues. Schools with limited cafeteria space worry about managing meal times efficiently if recess times shift.

But here’s the counterargument:
Schools that have implemented the change report no significant behavioral issues.

Students don’t just eat better—they behave better. Post-recess, they come into the cafeteria calmer, more focused, and ready to eat.

Teachers actually prefer this model because students return from lunch full and ready to learn, rather than sluggish and hungry from skipping their meal.

And most importantly, the evidence is clear: keeping recess after lunch is actively hurting student health and wasting millions of taxpayer dollars.

So, what’s stopping schools from making the switch?

What Schools (and Parents) Can Do Right Now

If you’re a parent, teacher, or administrator, advocating for a pre-lunch recess at your school is one of the simplest ways to improve student nutrition.

Here’s how to start:

Talk to your school principal or district leaders. Share the findings from BYU’s study and highlight the potential cost savings and health benefits.
Suggest a trial run. Schools can implement a short-term test period (e.g., one semester) to see the impact firsthand.
Get parent and teacher support. The more voices advocating for this change, the more likely school leaders will listen.
Look at successful examples. Schools that have already made the switch report overwhelmingly positive results—including less food waste, healthier students, and smoother lunchroom operations.

A Simple Fix with Enormous Benefits

At a time when school budgets are stretched thin and childhood nutrition is a growing concern, a cost-free solution is staring us right in the face.

Moving recess before lunch could: