Smarter Lunchrooms Randomized Control Trial: Results From Year 3

Abstract

In Year 3, the objective was to determine the impact of combining multiple Smarter Lunchroom interventions on the selection and consumption of healthy food items in the school lunchroom. This design was informed by the positive results of single Smarter Lunchroom protocols in Year 2. In partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension, 11 middle schools from urban and rural districts in Western New York participated in the project during the 2014-2015 school year. Using a cross-over design, 5 schools received the intervention in the fall, and 6 schools received the intervention in the spring. The intervention combined Smarter Lunchroom protocols targeted at increasing the convenience, visibility, and attractiveness of fruits, vegetables, and white milk. Selection, waste, and consumption of food items were measured by trained researchers using the quarter-waste method of visual estimation to determine tray waste. Results were compared between treatment and control schools. Early results show that the interventions had a positive effect on fruit selection and waste. These results indicate that students both selected and ate more fruits. Some of the schools also saw positive effects on the waste of vegetables and white milk, indicating that students at these schools also ate more of these items.