School Nutrition Services (SNS) Research

Publication: JAND

Date Published: February 2017

Reference:

The New Federal School Nutrition Standards and Meal Patterns: Early Evidence Examining the Influence on Student Dietary Behavior and the School Food Environment
Cullen, Karen W. et al.
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Volume 117, Issue 2, 185 - 191

Key Takeaways: The study examined early evidence on the impact of the new federal school nutrition standards and meal patterns on students' dietary behavior and school food environment. The study found that there was an increase in fruits and veggies, but also plate waste, meaning students were not consuming the additional servings of fruits and vegetables. Students' participation in school meals was stable, which did not deter students from choosing school meals. Students increased their consumption of fiber and decreased their consumption of sodium. The school food environment improved in terms of better food quality and increased availability of healthy options.

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