ARS | Publication request: Texas Public School Nutrition Policy Changes Sources of Middle School Student Food Choices

Submitted to: International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 1, 2007
Publication Date: June 1, 2007
Citation: Cullen, K. 2007. Texas public school nutrition policy changes sources of middle school student food choices [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Program and Abstract. Free Paper Session 20: Nutrition Interventions Among Children and Adolescents, June 20-23, 2007, Oslo, Norway. p. 186-187.

Technical Abstract: Little is known about the impact of school food policy changes on student intake. This study assessed changes in student intake by food source after the 2004 Texas Public School Nutrition Policy was implemented. Anonymous lunch food records, with food source identified, were collected from students in three south Texas middle schools for two years. The first year records (n=2205) reflected usual school food offerings; the second year records reflected changes with the State policy change (n=10240). ANOVA assessed differences in source of foods consumed after the policy change. Overall, the percentages of nutrients, low-fat vegetables, and milk consumed from the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) meal were significantly higher (83-99%) after the policy change than at baseline (53-88%). The percentages of sweetened beverages (72 to 19%), candy (39 to 5%), desserts (22% to 0), and chips (31 to 6%) consumed from vending were significantly reduced, but snack bar sweetened beverages (13 to 61%), candy (24 to 52%), and dessert (7 to 22%) consumption increased, as did sweetened beverage (6 to 18%), chip (18 to 90%), and dessert (47 to 64%) consumption from home. However, consumption was lower after the policy change compared to baseline (5.4 to 1.5 oz sweetened beverages, 0.21 to 0.04 serving chips, 0.09 to 0.04 serving candy, 0.11 to 0.04 serving dessert foods). School food policy changes can shift student food choices from snack bar and vending to NSLP meals, and improve student lunch consumption. Whether these improved lunch intakes influence total day dietary consumption is unknown.