School Nutrition Services (SNS) Research

Publication: JAND

Date Published: September 2019

Reference: 

Impact of the Updated USDA School Meal Standards, Chef-Enhanced Meals, and the Removal of Flavored Milk on School Meal Selection and Consumption
Cohen, Juliana F.W. et al.
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Volume 119, Issue 9, 1511 - 1515

Key Takeaways: Evaluated the updated USDA school meal standards, chef-enhanced meals, and removal of flavored milk on student meal choices and consumption.  The study involved 1309 students in grades 3 through 8, including 4 intervention schools and 4 control schools in 2 low-income urban school districts. The intervention group was the one with the updated USDA school meal standards, chef-enhanced meals, and removal of flavored milk from student meal choices and consumption. Results showed more fruit (75.2% vs. 59.2%) and vegetable consumption (62.2% vs. 38.2%) from the intervention schools than the control schools. The removal of flavored milk led to a significant decrease in flavored milk selection (56.8% vs. 94.0%) and (54.8% vs. 63.7%) consumption in intervention schools compared to control schools.

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