School Nutrition Services (SNS) Research

Publication: JAND

Date Published: March 2018

Reference: 

State Laws Are Associated with School Lunch Duration and Promotion Practices
Turner, Lindsey et al.
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Volume 118, Issue 3, 455 - 463

Key Takeaways: This study examines the relationship between state-level policies and school practices related to student engagement in school meal programs and duration in lunch periods.  Data was utilized from the 2014 School Health Policies and Practices Study, and corresponding state laws by The National Wellness Policy Studies. Which encompassed 414 public schools across 43 states.  The study showed an increase use of promotional strategies where schools in states with laws encouraged stakeholder engagement in meal programs were more likely to conduct taste tests (64% vs. 44%), collect student suggestions (67% vs. 50%), and inviting family members to school meals (71% vs. 53%), additionally state with laws encouraged promotional strategies compared to school instates without such laws (mean = 10.4 vs. 8.8). State with such laws also allowed 30 minutes to eat after being seated compared to states without such laws (43% vs. 27%).

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