Nutrient Intake During School Lunch in Title I Elementary Schools With Universal Free Meals.
Health Educ Behav
; 49(1): 118-127, 2022 02.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34024168
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:
Students (1st-5th graders; 98.6% from racial/ethnic minoritized backgrounds; 92.5% NSLP participation) from six Title I elementary schools serving universal free meals participated. Digital images of students' lunch meal selection and consumption were obtained (n = 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.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Almuerzo
/
Servicios de Alimentación
Límite:
Child
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Health Educ Behav
Asunto de la revista:
CIENCIAS DO COMPORTAMENTO
/
EDUCACAO
/
SAUDE PUBLICA
Año:
2022
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos