A new analysis has found that rather than adopting nutritious school lunches, many children are ready to lose their appetite by putting the lunches in trash bins. It is something that many teachers and parents have suspected.

Since 2012, changes have been made in school lunch menu in order to provide healthier food to students. The report has found that children who are part of the healthier federal lunch program are putting more fruits and vegetables on their trays, but not eating them completely. In fact, they have been throwing away 56% more than before the changes were implemented.

The study is considered to be one of the first studies to carry out comparative analysis about how many fruits and vegetables children ate before and after the National School Lunch Program. Under the program, it was compulsory for children to choose a fruit or vegetable with their meal.

Study’s lead author Sarah Amin, a researcher at the University of Vermont, said that the findings were quite discouraging. Amin said that next month, it will be decided whether or not to renew the program. But the researchers think that the programme should continue despite knowing about the food waste.

There are many critics of the program that has been championed by First Lady Michelle Obama. As per the program, ‘nutritionally balanced’ low cost or free lunches are provided to more than 31 million children.

Researchers reached at the findings by visiting two elementary schools before and after the new federal guidelines. The study has found that children selected around 29% more fruits and vegetables when it was option. After the guidelines were put into place then children had around 13% fewer fruits and vegetables.