Snacks, Beverages, Vending Machines, and School Stores: A Comparison of Alternative and Regular Schools in Minnesota, 2002 to 2008

Abstract

In US secondary schools, vending machines and school stores are a common source of low-nutrient, energy-dense snacks and beverages, including sugar-sweetened beverages, high fat salty snacks and candy. However, little is known about the prevalence of these food practices in alternative schools, educational settings for students at risk of academic failure due to truancy, school expulsion and behavioral problems. Nationwide, over 5000 alternative schools enroll about one-half million students, who are disproportionately minority and low-income youth. Principal survey data from a cross-sectional sample of alternative (n=104) and regular (n=339) schools collected biennially from 2002–2008 as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Minnesota School Health Profiles were used to assess and compare food practice prevalence over time. Generalized estimating equation models were used to estimate prevalence, adjusting for school demographics. Over time, food practice prevalence decreased significantly for both alternative and regular schools, although declines were mostly modest. However, the decrease in high fat, salty snacks was significantly less for alternative than regular schools (−22.9% versus −42.2%; p<0.0001). Efforts to improve access to healthy food choice at school should reach all schools, including alternative schools. Study findings suggest high fat salty snacks are more common in vending machines and school stores in alternative schools than regular schools, which may contribute to increased snacking behavior among students and extra consumption of salt, fat and sugar. Study findings support the need to include alternative schools in future efforts that aim to reform the school food environment.

Sweet, Fat and Salty: Snacks in Vending Machines in Health and Social Care Institutions in Slovenia

“…Although the results of this present study comply with the finding of other research on vending machine offers [ 1 , 3 , 7 , 41 , 42 , 59 ], we were also able to observe some positive exceptions and examples of good practice. For example, 5 institutions offered plain yoghurts in vending machines, but only 2 unique products were found.…”

Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Children's Health

“…Schools that have vending machines provide greater access to SSBs and unhealthy snacks than schools that do not (81). Schools vary widely in the availability of vending machines with SSBs (1); a focus on limiting access to SSBs may represent an important opportunity for those schools that do have vending machines and advertising to make a change (102).…”

“…Schools vary widely in the availability of vending machines with SSBs (1); a focus on limiting access to SSBs may represent an important opportunity for those schools that do have vending machines and advertising to make a change (102). A study in Minnesota found that access to low-nutrient, energy-dense beverages and snacks decreased from 2002 to 2008 (81). One school found that implementing policies based on guidelines in Canada resulted in the reduction of SSBs and unhealthy foods and wider access to fruits, vegetables, and physical activity (145).…”

A Comparison of the Vending Environment Among Three Rural Subtypes of Secondary Schools

“…This classification of rural subtypes has been used in previous school policy evaluation research. 18,23,24…”