Salad Bars in the National School Lunch Program: Impact on Dietary Consumption Patterns in Elementary School Students

Virginia Commonwealth University6,269 enrolled

Overview

This project is a research study looking at what foods students choose and eat during school lunch and examines how salad bars impact what children eat.

This project applies a wait list control cluster randomized controlled trial to evaluate school salad bars. This project uses digital images (pictures) of labeled trays in the cafeteria before and after children eat lunch. This project also asks cafeteria workers about their thoughts about salad bars and their experiences with the salad bar program.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

6,269

Conditions

Diet, Food, and Nutrition

Interventions

Salad barOTHER

Schools where the school district has installed salad bars

Waitlisted controlOTHER

Schools where the school district has not yet installed salad bars

Salad bar post-COVIDOTHER

Schools where the school distract has re-opened salad bars will have methods repeated in a subset of schools post-COVID-19

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 5 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Students: All K-6th grade students at target schools who participate in the school lunch program on rating day * Cafeteria staff: All cafeteria personnel at the randomly selected target schools will be eligible to complete surveys Exclusion Criteria: * Students: Unsure sex of child * Cafeteria staff: None

Locations (1)

Healthy Lifestyles Center at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU

Henrico, Virginia, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

fruits and vegetables (FV) selection

Amount of FV selection will be calculated based on digital photographs of student's lunch trays before consumption

Time frame: Baseline to up to 6 weeks after salad bars installed

FV consumption

Amount of FV consumed will be calculated by subtracting amount of FV remaining after lunch is consumed from amount of FV selected based on digital photographs of student's lunch trays before and after consumption.

Time frame: Baseline to up to 6 weeks after salad bars installed

Secondary Outcomes

energy intake (kcal)

Amount of calories consumed will be calculated by subtracting the total amount of calories remaining on trays from the total amount of calories initially selected based on digital photographs of student's lunch trays before and after consumption.

Time frame: Baseline to up to 6 weeks after salad bars installed

dietary quality (Healthy Eating Index)

the Healthy Eating Index will be calculated for food and beverages consumed at lunch (amount on the tray before minus after consumption) using NDSR

Time frame: Baseline to up to 6 weeks after salad bars installed

fruits and vegetables (FV) selection post-COVID-19

To examine the the impact of salad bars on student dietary intake patterns after their reintroduction post-COVID-19 school closures. Amount of FV selection will be calculated based on digital photographs of student's lunch trays before consumption

Time frame: 4-6 weeks after salad bars re-installed

FV consumption post-COVID-19

To examine the the impact of salad bars on student dietary intake patterns after their reintroduction post-COVID-19 school closures. Amount of FV consumed will be calculated by subtracting amount of FV remaining after lunch is consumed from amount of FV selected based on digital photographs of student's lunch trays before and after consumption.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.