Improvements and Disparities in Types of Foods and Milk Beverages Offered in Elementary School Lunches, 2006–2007 to 2013–2014

Abstract

Introduction

School Wellness Committees Are Associated With Lower Body Mass Index Z‐Scores and Improved Dietary Intakes in US Children: The Healthy Communities Study

“…Unlike most other studies assessing the school environment, strengths of our study included measured height and weight . Further, many of the previous studies examining wellness policies looked at environmental dietary changes at the school‐level, while this study measured individual dietary outcomes. Our study also had some limitations.…”

Nutrition Policies, Practices, and Environments in Low‐Income Georgia Elementary Schools, United States, 2015‐2017

“…21 During this period, the percentage of schools having fresh fruit available increased from 61% to 82%, high fat milk availability decreased from 78% to 29%, and from 2008 to 2014, vegetable availability increased from 75% to 86%. 21 Another nationally representative sample of public and private schools found that from 2006 to 2010, fundraising restrictions increased, healthier items were offered at lunch, and more public schools created gardens or participated in farm-to-school programs. 22 Although these results are encouraging, there is a need for more recent data, as well as an examination of whether school-level demographics are associated with school nutrition policies, practices, and environments.…”

“…More recently, a reauthorization of the CNR, the 2010 Healthy, Hunger‐Free Kids Act (HHFK), sought to further strengthen school nutrition settings by setting more stringent guidelines for foods and beverages sold at schools and increasing funding to assist schools in making these changes . The positive impact of these regulations has been documented by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Bridging the Gap program, which surveyed a nationally representative sample of public elementary schools participating in the National School Lunch Program annually from 2006 to 2014 . During this period, the percentage of schools having fresh fruit available increased from 61% to 82%, high fat milk availability decreased from 78% to 29%, and from 2008 to 2014, vegetable availability increased from 75% to 86% .…”

“…The positive impact of these regulations has been documented by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Bridging the Gap program, which surveyed a nationally representative sample of public elementary schools participating in the National School Lunch Program annually from 2006 to 2014 . During this period, the percentage of schools having fresh fruit available increased from 61% to 82%, high fat milk availability decreased from 78% to 29%, and from 2008 to 2014, vegetable availability increased from 75% to 86% . Another nationally representative sample of public and private schools found that from 2006 to 2010, fundraising restrictions increased, healthier items were offered at lunch, and more public schools created gardens or participated in farm‐to‐school programs …”

“…22 Although these results are encouraging, there is a need for more recent data, as well as an examination of whether school-level demographics are associated with school nutrition policies, practices, and environments. The literature has conflicting findings with some evidence indicating student socioeconomic status being correlated with salad availability 21 and school nutrition education goals, 23 and white-majority schools being associated with fresh fruit availability, 21 with other studies finding no such associations between school nutrition settings and either free and reduced-price lunch (FRL) eligibility 24 (a proxy for student socioeconomic status) or race/ethnicity. 22,24 In partnership with a multidisciplinary advisory committee, HealthMPowers, a Georgia-based nonprofit organization, led the design and implementation of the School Setting Nutrition Survey.…”