Shake It Up

Schools are subbing smoothies for fruit. Is that good for kids?

Carolyn Griffin for TIME

Kids are supposed to eat fresh fruits and veggies--as much as two cups a day--to promote development, according to the USDA. Problem is, "they usually don't," says Maria Estrada, director of nutrition services at a school district in Riverside County, California. Instead, they opt for fatty snacks.

So like a growing number of administrators, Estrada decided to juice her marketing efforts. This academic year, Coachella Valley schools will introduce smoothie dispensers from JambaGo, the new program from Jamba Juice that's aiming to get K-12 students excited about consuming fruit again (albeit by selling them smoothies). They will be in about 1,000...

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