Although schools are trying to encourage healthier eating, dietitians say the process mainly starts at home.
DELTA COUNTY -- Eating healthy is important for people of all ages, but it's even more crucial when you're still in the growing stages of life.
A study released from the Center for Disease Control, or CDC, however, indicates less than 10 percent of young teens get the daily nutrition they need through fruits and vegetables.
Although schools are trying to encourage healthier eating, dietitians say the process mainly starts at home.
From fresh fruit provided daily to salads, the Gladstone High School tries to make sure the students have healthy options at lunch.
"In the past two years, we have offered more fresh fruits, vegetables and now we're going to the whole grain breads," explained Nancy Bratonia, High School Food Service Director. "We try to offer a salad every day on the menu and fresh fruit everyday on the menu."
But meals at school only go so far. A report released from the CDC indicates only about 13 percent of U.S. high school students get at least three servings of veggies a day and just 32 percent get two servings of fruit.
In Michigan, the report shows only about seven percent of high schoolers eat the combined recommended daily servings of both.
Linda Klope, a clinical dietitian at OSF Saint Francis Hospital in Escanaba, says most kids at that age are still growing, and getting the essential vitamins and minerals from fruits and veggies are crucial to maintain healthy growth.
But Klope says maintaining the healthy eating routine ultimately starts at home with mom and dad, like keeping fruits and vegetables in the house.
"They can eat right themselves, that's the first thing, and ultimately it's dad that has more of an influence on the kids on what they eat than mom does, so they can start there, and have it in the house and just keep it there," said Klope.
For more information on healthy eating or the CDC report, click here.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWLUC