5 things: CDC report finds many preschoolers lack daily produce intake

In this edition of 5 Things, Food Management highlights five things you may have missed recently about developments affecting onsite dining.

Here’s your list for today:

Almost half of U.S. children aged 1 to 5 years did not eat a daily vegetable and around one-third did not eat a daily fruit in 2021, according to a study published recently in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Researchers examined data from the 2021 National Survey of Children’s Health on the eating habits of 18,386 children aged 1 to 5 years—specifically, how they consumed fruits, vegetables and sugary drinks.

Read more: Many young children not eating a daily fruit or vegetable, study finds

More states are testing Medicaid programs that’ll provide more people with healthy foods and, potentially, lower healthcare costs. Medicaid typically only covers medical expenses, but Arkansas, Oregon and Massachusetts received approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services last year to use a portion of their Medicaid funds to pay for food programs, including medically tailored meals, groceries and produce prescriptions (fruit and vegetable prescriptions or vouchers provided by medical professionals for people with diet-related diseases or food insecurity).

Related:5 things: Study suggests school meal reforms helped decrease child BMI

Read more: Can food cure high medical bills? Pilot 'food as medicine' programs aim to prove just that

Due to fewer employees working onsite, Blue Cross NC’s cafeteria is seeing less activity. The payer has decided to use its cafeteria to prepare meals and then distribute them to more than a dozen nonprofits, which then provide the meals to those in need in their communities.

Read more: How Blue Cross NC Is Using Its Hybrid Work Model to Battle Food Insecurity

The three-day in-office workweek trend received another major boost as Amazon.com Inc has announced that it would require employees to be in office at least three days a week from May 1. In a message that was posted on Amazon's blog, CEO Andy Jassy wrote the decision was taken at a meeting earlier this week and the move would make it easier to learn and collaborate.

Read more: Amazon Orders Employees to Be in Office at Least 3 Days a Week

Duke University Dining recently received the FARECheck Gold Status for its East Campus dining facilities and became the first university dining program in the country to do so for an entire facility. FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education) is a nonprofit organization that focuses on raising food allergy awareness through education and transformative research. After working to meet FARE standards, Marketplace and Trinity Café were officially deemed peanut and tree nut free.

Related:5 tech things: Autonomous store debuts in time for NBA All-Star festivities in Salt Lake City

Read more: Duke's East Campus Marketplace, Trinity Cafe now peanut and tree nut free

Bonus: New menu items introduced at Toyota Stadium for new FC Dallas season

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]