Work

Nutrient Intake During School Lunch in Title I Elementary Schools With Universal Free Meals

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides >30 million meals to children daily; however, the specific nutrient composition of NSLP-selected and consumed meals for students from lower income and racial/ethnic minoritized backgrounds is unknown. AIMS: To quantify the nutrients in school lunch selection and consumption among students participating in the NSLP and compare these values to nutrient recommendations. METHOD: = 1,102 image pairs). Plate waste analyses quantified portions consumed. Nutrient composition of students' lunch selection and consumption were calculated and compared with the 2010 Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act and 2009 Institute of Medicine recommendations. RESULTS: Most lunches selected (59%-97%) met recommendations for all nutrients except for total calories (23%), vitamin C (46%), and dietary fiber (48%). Based on lunch consumption, most students' lunches met recommendations for sodium (98%), protein (55%), calories from fat (82%), and saturated fat (89%); however, few met recommendations for total calories (5%), calcium (8%), iron (11%), vitamin A (18%), vitamin C (16%), and fiber (7%). DISCUSSION: Meals selected met most nutrient recommendations for the majority of children; yet overall consumption patterns reflect suboptimal nutrient intake. CONCLUSION: Meals served under the NSLP policy mandates align with recommended nutrient patterns, highlighting the importance of maintaining these standards. Strategies to optimize children's intake of nutrient-rich portions of these meals are needed to optimize policy impact.

Source: Health Education & Behavior

DOI: 10.1177/10901981211011936

Authors: Elizabeth L. Adams, Hollie A. Raynor, Laura M. Thornton, Suzanne E. Mazzeo, Melanie K. Bean

Institutions: Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Language: English

Topic: Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development