School Nutrition Services (SNS) Research

Publication: JAND

Date Published: May 2015

Reference: 

Differential Improvements in Student Fruit and Vegetable Selection and Consumption in Response to the New National School Lunch Program Regulations: A Pilot Study
Cullen, Karen W. et al.
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Volume 115, Issue 5, 743 - 750

Key Takeaways: A pilot study aimed to assess changes in student selections in the student food selection and consumption following the updated National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The study design was conducted were eight elementary and four intermediate schools within a Houston area school district. Schools were matched based on free/reduced price meal eligibility and randomized into control and intervention groups. Both schools served the same menu, however, the intervention group posted the new meal patterns daily, allowing students to select one fruit and two vegetable servings per reimbursable meal. Control schools maintained previous meal patterns, two fruits and vegetables per meal.  Results showed increased food selections in fruit selections in the intervention group. There was no significant difference in vegetable selections in intervention and control schools.

#Interventions