ABSTRACT
Objective@#To analyze changes of school canteen construction and canteen meal provision in surveilled schools after the initiation of the National Nutrition Improvement Program for Rural Compulsory Education Student (NNIPRCES), therefore to provide data basis for improving efficacy of school canteen meals.@*Methods@#From 2012 to 2017, among the 699 trial counties in 22 provinces under NNIPRCES, at least 10% of elementary schools and middle schools with each food supply model (canteen meals, enterprise meals, and family meals) were randomly selected in each county in each year. Questionnaire survey was conducted to collect school canteen construction and meal provision information. The sample size were around 8 000 to 11 000 schools every year.@*Results@#From 2012 to 2017, the proportion of schools that have canteens only, have both canteen and dining room, as well as those have canteen and dining room with tables and chairs significantly increased with years(χ 2=3 043.95, 6 383.85, 6 731.17, P<0.01). The proportion of schools having canteen increased from 59.5% in 2012 to 87.0% in 2017. The proportion of schools with canteen providing breakfast, lunch or dinner varied across years(χ 2=51.85, 144.96, 189.19, P<0.01). The varieties of food groups of three meals all significantly increased during 2012, 2014 and 2017(χ 2=702.30, 892.38, 550.55, P<0.01). The canteen construction indicators, proportion of canteens providing three meals, and food groups included in three meals all significantly differed between elementary schools and middle schools, also between schools of central area and western area(P<0.05). The changing patterns with year were significantly different in elementary schools and middle schools, and in schools of central area and western area(P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#After the implementation of NNIPRCES, canteen construction and food variety in canteen meals significantly improved during 2012 to 2017. However, there are still gaps between changes of canteen construction and canteen meal provision. It is necessary to overcome obstacles to further increase the proportion of schools with canteen offering meals and the variety of food of meals.