Is Lunch Still Gross? A Qualitative Evaluation of a New School Lunch Program

Abstract

The childhood obesity epidemic has raised national awareness about the need to improve school meals. Our research study partnered University of Rochester researchers with the Healthi Kids Coalition, a local health planning organization, to evaluate a newly instituted food service program in a metropolitan school district of western New York. Using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Program Evaluation stepwise framework, we focused on stakeholder accountability and student satisfaction. The first author collected data through informal, conversational group interviews with students, key informant interviews (with school board members, food service employees, and the food services management company), and participant-observations at 2 schools. Then, we sorted data across the categories of “accountability” and “satisfaction.” Analysis of stakeholder accountability data revealed 3 themes: (a) unsustainable program costs, (b) strained working relationships among stakeholders, and (c) student–staff interactions that could potentially encourage consumption, but often resulted in rushed, unfinished meals. Analysis of student satisfaction data also revealed 3 themes: (a) dissatisfaction with food quality, including taste, texture, and food preparation; (b) unappealing food presentation; and (c) tremendous food waste with large amounts of uneaten food thrown away. Our study identified a complex system of relationships between the school board, food services management company, and unionized food service workers, which ultimately affected the food quality and (non)consumption at the point of delivery. We recommend improving stakeholder relationships, training staff to reduce waste, reevaluating labor contracts pertaining to food services, continued program evaluation, and using an evaluation process that represents all relevant perspectives.