Lunchroom environmental factors related to having school salad bars: Prevalence and findings from a state‐wide survey in Arizona

Abstract

ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence of and factors related having salad bars in Arizona K‐12 schools.MethodsSchool nutrition managers (n=653; 72% response rate) completed a 71‐item web‐based survey assessing prevalence and predictors of school salad bars in Arizona from March‐October, 2014. Logistic regression examined associations between having a salad bar and factors such as respondents' years in current position, time available for lunch, mixed versus single grade lunch periods, the number of lunch periods per day, recess/free recreation time at lunch, and having a registered dietitian (RD) on staff.ResultsThe prevalence of salad bars in Arizona schools was 62.0%; 27.4% of schools never had salad bars, with 10.6% once having had salad bars. Schools that served lunches to single grades during a lunch period were 47% more likely to have salad bars compared to schools that served lunches to multiple grades each period (p<0.001). The odds of having a salad bar were 89% greater if schools had recess/recreation time at lunch (p=0.002) and 2.87 times greater if a RD was on staff full or part‐time (p<0.001). No statistically significant differences were observed in the schools that had salad bars and respondents' years in their position (mean=6.4±6.0 years) or the time available for students to eat lunch (mean=31.8±19.6min).ConclusionThe prevalence of salad bars was relatively high in Arizona. Certain factors such as having a RD on staff and having recess/recreation time at lunch were related to having a salad bar, indicating that administrative support of health‐related practices that create a more healthful environment may promote higher implementation of salad bars.