Tom Harkin: “I would like to take a few moments to recognize an innovative effort aimed at improving youth nutrition that took place…”

“I would like to take a few moments to recognize an innovative effort aimed at improving youth nutrition that took place at Muscatine High School in Iowa. Communities across the country are focusing on ways to build health and wellness into everyday life--in schools, workplaces, or elsewhere in the community--and this is one excellent example of just such an initiative. In a collaboration between the University of Iowa and the parent-led Muscatine booster club--``Muskie Boosters''--researchers and booster club members added new healthy items such as apples, carrots, granola bars, and grilled chicken to the concession stand's menu during high school athletic events. They didn't stop there--they also modified the ingredients in other items to make them healthier. For example, they eliminated the use of trans fats in the nachos. These menu changes had one main goal: give the Muscatine High School community access to fresh and healthy food, where previously only junk food could be found. And here is the really great news: The University of Iowa researchers who participated in this experiment found that selling healthier products had almost no impact on concession revenues and actually resulted in a slight increase in sales per football game with the introduction of healthier items and ingredient changes.…”