Imagine if a quick fingertip scan could reveal how many fruits and vegetables you’ve been eating. Thanks to the Veggie Meter®, that’s not just possible—it’s happening right now in EMG schools. This innovative tool uses safe light technology to measure carotenoids, the natural pigments in foods like carrots, spinach, tomatoes, and oranges. The higher your score, the more fruits and veggies you’ve been fueling your body with over the past month.

The Veggie Meter is more than a fun piece of technology. It’s helping EatMoveGrow and Team Nutrition show the real impact of school-based nutrition programs—and giving students instant, exciting feedback that connects their daily food choices to their health.

Quick, Easy, and Eye-Opening

A Veggie Meter scan takes less than two minutes and is completely painless. Students clean a fingertip, place it in the cradle, and watch as the machine gives a score that lands in one of five color zones:

• Red/Orange/Yellow: Time to add more fruits and veggies!
• Green/Blue: You’re doing great—keep it up!

The immediate feedback sparks curiosity and motivates students to eat more colorful fruits and vegetables.

What the Data Shows

At the 2025 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE), Team Nutrition and EMG shared results from a five-week pilot in a rural Louisiana elementary school.

• 38 students in grades 5 and 6 participated.
• Each week, students tried two fresh fruits or vegetables—like strawberries, bell peppers, grapes, cucumbers, and carrots.
• Teachers and cafeteria staff reinforced the message with superhero posters, digital classroom resources, and stickers.

The results were powerful:

• Average baseline Veggie Meter score: 190
• After five weeks: 217
• Increase: nearly 27 points, a measurable boost in fruit and vegetable intake

This study proves that when schools combine access to healthy foods with fun, engaging education, students eat more fruits and vegetables—and the Veggie Meter provides the evidence.

Why It Matters

Not every EMG school will use the Veggie Meter, but the schools that do give us critical data to measure our overall impact. That data allows us to:

• Show how nutrition programs are changing student behavior
• Demonstrate the value of evidence-based approaches
• Help School Wellness Committees set goals and track progress
• Encourage families and students to make healthier choices at home and school

Every fingertip scan is more than a number—it’s proof that small changes in school nutrition lead to real, lasting health improvements.

Looking Ahead

With the support of Team Nutrition, EMG schools are leading the way in connecting nutrition education to measurable health outcomes. The Veggie Meter will continue to help us track progress, celebrate successes, and inspire students to eat more fruits and vegetables every day.

The future of school health is bright—and a little more colorful—thanks to the Veggie Meter.