Does the National School Lunch Program Foster Healthy Eating? Analyzing Food Selection and Consumption

• In Event: Health and Well-Being in the School Setting: Multiple Perspectives on Supporting Students and Teachers

Abstract

American children exhibit the highest rates of obesity among industrialized nations. To promote healthy eating, policymakers have revised standards for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), which provides school lunch to 30 million low-income children. Studies show mixed results on the physical health of students participating in the NSLP, but little research has examined what students consume when provided a school lunch. This study analyzes the nutritional content of food consumed for a random sample of student lunches (n = 141) in an urban Title I middle school. Results indicate that school lunches are low in nutritional density, and that this problem is exacerbated by student consumption patterns. Future research is needed to determine school-based strategies that support healthy eating.

Authors

• Daniel Hamlin, University of Oklahoma

• Robert Kaiser, The University of Oklahoma