School Nutrition Services (SNS) Research

Publication: JAND

Date Published: August 2018

Reference: 

Eating School Meals Daily Is Associated with Healthier Dietary Intakes: The Healthy Communities Study
Au, Lauren E. et al.
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Volume 118, Issue 8, 1474 - 1481.e1

Key Takeaways: The study investigated the relationship between daily participation in school meal programs and children's dietary habits. During 2013 and 2015, the research involved 5,106 US children aged 4-15 years old. Dietary intake was assessed using the National Health Survey and the Nutritional Examination Survey Dietary Screener Questionnaire, which focused on fruit and vegetable consumption, dietary fiber, whole grains, dairy, calcium, added sugars, sugar-sweetened beverages, and energy-dense foods. Children who ate breakfast every day had a higher consumption fruits and vegetables (0.1 cup/day), dietary fiber (0.4 g/day), whole grains (0.1 oz/day), dairy (0.1 cup/day), and calcium (34.5 mg/day) compared to those who ate school breakfast less frequently. Daily lunch participants had higher daily intakes of dairy and calcium compared to less frequent participants. The study, however, found no significant association between daily school meal consumption and intakes of energy-dense nutrient-poor foods and added sugars.

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