National School Lunch Program Participation Research Articles

Effects of informational nudges on preordered food choices of middle school National School Lunch Program participants

AbstractWe examine the effects of own order history, peer order history, and MyPlate nudges received by middle‐school National School Lunch Program (NSLP) participants while preordering on the selection of fruits and vegetables. Students receiving own order history nudges were significantly less likely to select a vegetable during the postintervention phase. Students who received peer order history nudges were significantly less likely to select a vegetable during the nudging and postintervention phases, suggesting that receiving information on peer selection negatively impacted the selection of vegetables. The MyPlate recommendations nudge may mitigate the negative effects of receiving peer selection information.

The National School Lunch Program and Obesity: A Look at Economic Stability's Influence on the Relationship.

Approximately 20% of US children are obese and these rates are expected to increase. The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides meals to millions of students and may influence their body mass index (BMI). This study aimed to investigate whether students who participate in the NSLP have a higher BMI when compared to those that do not. Secondary data from the US Census Bureau were analyzed. Kruskal-Wallis H tests were performed to find associations between NSLP participation and students' BMI. Race and economic stability were included as moderating variables. NSLP participation and respondents that identified as White/Caucasian, African American, and Native American were positively associated with BMI. Lower economic stability was also positively associated with BMI. Participation in the NSLP was significantly associated with participants' BMI, race, and economic stability. While a cause-and-effect relationship cannot be determined, these results are important given their potential influence on students' long-term health.

Food Insecurity and Depressive Symptoms Among Adolescents: Does Federal Nutrition Assistance Act as a Buffer?

Food insecurity has been associated with a variety of adverse outcomes in adolescents. However, further research is needed to elucidate whether adolescent self-report food insecurity contributes to depressive symptoms. This study examined the (1) association between food insecurity and depressive symptoms and (2) moderating role of federal nutrition assistance in a nonclinical sample of adolescents. Adolescents aged 12 to 17 years (N = 141) and one parent/guardian completed self-report questionnaires as part of 2 larger studies examining adolescent stress and eating behaviors. Adolescents (M age = 13.79 years, SD = 1.60, 53.9% female) completed measures of food insecurity and depressive symptoms. A bootstrapped linear regression model demonstrated that adolescent food insecurity was significantly, positively associated with depressive symptoms, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.19-1.64), after controlling for biological sex. Among dyads eligible for federal nutrition assistance (N = 64), the interaction between adolescent food insecurity and National School Lunch Program (NSLP) participation did not reach significance, ΔF(1, 59) = 1.06, 95% CI (-3.80 to 9.29). The interaction between adolescent food insecurity and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation trended toward significance, ΔF(1, 59) = 2.88, 95% CI (-5.73 to 0.47). Adolescents with food insecurity may be at a greater risk for experiencing elevated depressive symptoms. Whereas NSLP participation did not act as a buffer, SNAP participation may attenuate the association between food insecurity and depressive symptoms. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to develop a greater understanding of factors that may alter the relationship between adolescent food insecurity and depressive symptoms.

The 2016 Presidential Election, the Public Charge Rule, and Food and Nutrition Assistance Among Immigrant Households.

Objectives. To investigate whether the 2016 US presidential election and the subsequent leak of a proposed change to the public charge rule reduced immigrant families' participation in food and nutrition assistance programs. Methods. We used nationally representative data on n = 57 808 households in the United States from the 2015-2018 Current Population Survey-Food Security Supplement. We implemented difference-in-difference-in-difference analyses to investigate whether the election and proposed rule change produced decreases in immigrant families' participation in food and nutrition assistance programs and whether such decreases varied according to state policy generosity toward immigrants. Results. Findings indicate significant and large decreases in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, School Breakfast Program, and National School Lunch Program participation among immigrants in moderately generous states but no changes to receipt of food assistance from nongovernmental sources or to household food insecurity. Conclusions. Both anti-immigrant rhetoric and the perceived threat of policy enactment can be enough to produce chilling effects that have potentially serious implications for the health of immigrant households and thus the health of the nation. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(12):1738-1746. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307011).

Association of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 With Body Mass Trajectories of Children in Low-Income Families

Implemented in 2012, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA) increased nutritional requirements of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) to reverse the potential role of the NSLP in childhood obesity. To evaluate whether associations between the free or reduced-price NSLP and body mass growth differed after implementation of the HHFKA. This cohort study used data from 2 nationally representative cohorts of US kindergarteners sampled in 1998 to 1999 and 2010 to 2011 and followed up for 6 years, through grade 5, in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999 (ECLS-K:1999, in 2003-2004) and Kindergarten Class of 2010-2011 (ECLS-K:2011, in 2015-2016). In total, 5958 children were selected for analysis from low-income families eligible for the free or reduced-price NSLP (household income <185% of the federal poverty level) who attended public schools and had no missing data on free or reduced-price NSLP participation or on body mass index (BMI; calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) at kindergarten or grades 1 and 5. Data were analyzed from January 1 to September 7, 2021. Cross-cohort comparison of before vs after implementation of the HHFKA for free or reduced-price NSLP participation at kindergarten and grades 1 and 5. Body mass index difference (BMID) from obesity threshold was the difference in BMI units from the age- and sex-specific obesity thresholds (95th percentile) and is sensitive to change at high BMI. Multigroup models by cohort included weights to balance the distribution of the 2 cohorts across a wide range of covariates. A Wald test was used to assess whether associations differed between the cohorts. In the final analysis, 3388 children in ECLS-K:1999 (1696 girls [50.1%]; mean [SD] age at baseline, 74.6 [4.3] months) and 2570 children in ECLS-K:2011 (1348 males [52.5%]; mean [SD] age at baseline, 73.6 [4.2] months) were included. The best fitting model for BMID change by free or reduced-price NSLP participation across the cohorts included fixed and time-varying associations. Before HHFKA implementation, grade 5 free or reduced-price NSLP participants had higher BMID, adjusted for their prior BMID trajectory, than nonparticipants (β = 0.54; 95% CI, 0.27-0.81). After HHFKA implementation, this association was attenuated (β = -0.07; 95% CI, -0.58 to 0.45), and grade 5 associations were different across cohorts (χ21 = 4.29, P = .04). In this cohort study using cross-cohort comparisons, children from low-income families who participated in the free or reduced-price NSLP had a higher likelihood of progression to high BMI that was no longer observed after HHFKA implementation. This finding suggests that the HHFKA may have attenuated the previous association of the NSLP with child obesity disparities.

Estimates of the Nutritional Impact of Non-Participation in the National School Lunch Program during COVID-19 School Closures.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in widespread school closures, reducing access to school meals for millions of students previously participating in the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) National School Lunch Program (NSLP). School-prepared meals are, on average, more nutritious than home-prepared meals. In the absence of recent data measuring changes in children’s diets during the pandemic, this article aims to provide conservative, back-of-the-envelope estimates of the nutritional impacts of the pandemic for school-aged children in the United States. We used administrative data from the USDA on the number of NSLP lunches served in 2019 and 2020 and nationally representative data from the USDA School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study on the quality of school-prepared and home-prepared lunches. We estimate changes in lunchtime calories and nutrients consumed by NSLP participants from March to November 2020, compared to the same months in 2019. We estimate that an NSLP participant receiving no school meals would increase their caloric consumption by 640 calories per week and reduce their consumption of nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D. Because 27 to 78 million fewer lunches were served per week in March–November 2020 compared to the previous year, nationally, students may have consumed 3 to 10 billion additional calories per week. As students return to school, it is vital to increase school meal participation and update nutrition policies to address potentially widening nutrition disparities.

Adolescent-Reported Food Insecurity: Correlates of Dietary Intake and School Lunch Behavior.

Much of what is known about food insecurity (FI) experiences for young people is based on caregiver report. As such, our understanding of relationships between youth FI and dietary intake (DI) may be limited, particularly among adolescents who often eat away from home. This study examined relationships between youth-reported past-month FI, past-week DI, and school lunch behavior. Data are from middle and high school participants in the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey (N = 125,375), one of the longest-running youth surveys in the US. Logistic regression assessed relationships between FI and DI, including fruit, vegetable, milk, sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB), and fast food consumption, and school lunch behavior, adjusting for demographic, physical, and emotional health indicators. Past-month FI was associated with reduced odds of meeting minimum thresholds for daily fruit, vegetable, and milk intake, and increased odds of daily SSB and frequent fast food consumption. Among food-insecure students, no participation in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or NSLP participation uncertainty was associated with increased odds of skipping lunch. Findings suggest the importance of clinical and community innovations to prevent the loss of nutritional quality in favor of energy density for youth and families experiencing FI.

Racial Disparities in School Lunch Program Participation and Cigarette Use: Evidence from Arizona Youth Survey Data

Background: Cigarette and other tobacco product use among youth has become a serious public health issue in the United States. Thus, it is important to understand the social and contextural factors of cigarette use, especially for the young population. This study explores the relationship between participation in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and youth cigarettes use. Further, this study examines how this relationship differs across racial/ethnic groups. Methods: The 2016 Arizona Youth Survey (n = 34,373) data and multivariate logistic regressions were used to examine the association between NSLP participation (free and reduced-cost) and youth cigarette use, both lifetime and past 30-day smoking behaviors. In addition, subgroup analyses were conducted to test the racial disparities in NSLP participation and cigarette use. Results: Results showed that free lunch participation was associated with significantly higher odds of youth cigarette use, both lifetime (OR = 1.25; p < .001) and in the past 30-days (OR = 1.14; p < .05). However, reduced-cost lunch participation was associated with significantly higher odds only for lifetime cigarette use (OR = 1.20; p < .01). Subgroup analyses revealed differences across the six racial/ethnic groups. White and Latinx youth showed a significant relationship between NSLP participation and lifetime cigarette smoking, whereas only Latinx youth showed a significant relationship between NSLP participation and past 30-day smoking. Implications: The findings suggest that intervention approaches to smoking cessation and prevention should be tailored to different racial/ethnic groups to account for their differences. Given the findings that youth (especially Latinxs) who participate in free and reduced-cost lunch programs are at a higher risk of using cigarettes than youth who do not, this study suggests that health intervention programs can enhance their reach and effectiveness by building partnerships with schools with sizable NSLP programs.

Nutrient Intake During School Lunch in Title I Elementary Schools With Universal Free Meals.

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. To quantify the nutrients in school lunch selection and consumption among students participating in the NSLP and compare these values to nutrient recommendations. 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. 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%). Meals selected met most nutrient recommendations for the majority of children; yet overall consumption patterns reflect suboptimal nutrient intake. 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.

Adolescent Participants in the School Lunch Program Consume More Nutritious Lunches but Their 24-hour Diets Are Similar to Nonparticipants

PurposeMeals offered through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) give students access to nutritious foods and have been found to make positive contributions to their diets. Consuming a healthy diet during adolescence is important to ensure that increased requirements for energy and key nutrients are met and to decrease the risk of chronic diseases. This analysis examined whether adolescent NSLP participants consumed more nutritious foods at lunch and over 24 hours than adolescents who ate lunch from home or other places. MethodsThis analysis used 24-hour dietary recalls for adolescents ages 10–19 (n = 1,311) from the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study. The nutritional quality of adolescents’ diets was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2010, where higher scores indicate better conformance with the Dietary Guidelines. HEI-2010 scores for NSLP participants and nonparticipants were compared for lunch and 24-hour intakes. ResultsLunches consumed by NSLP participants received significantly higher total HEI-2010 scores than lunches consumed by nonparticipants, and significantly higher scores for the dairy, whole grains, refined grains, and empty calories components of the HEI-2010. Over 24 hours, differences in total scores were not significant, but participants continued to receive higher scores for dairy and whole grains. ConclusionsAdolescents who participated in the NSLP consumed higher quality lunches than nonparticipants who consumed lunches from home or other places. However, adolescents’ 24-hour diets were similar regardless of NSLP participation, suggesting that foods participants consumed the rest of the day negatively influenced the quality of their diets.

Analyzing the Association between Student Weight Status and School Meal Participation: Evidence from the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study.

Childhood obesity remains a pressing public health concern. Children consume a substantial amount of their caloric intake while in school, making the passage of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) in 2010 and the subsequent improvements to the school meal standards a key policy change. Using data from the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study, this paper seeks to re-examine the association between students’ (N = 1963) weight status and participation in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) since the implementation of these policy changes to determine whether, and how, this relationship has changed. After controlling for a wide array of student characteristics and school-level fixed effects, findings from the multivariate regression analyses indicate that usual participation in the school meal programs has no clear association with students’ weight status, which contradicts findings from earlier studies conducted prior to the passage of the HHFKA. These findings are discussed in relation to changes in the demographic composition of usual NSLP participants over time.

Differences in Diet Quality between School Lunch Participants and Nonparticipants in the United States by Income and Race.

Prior research has shown that participation in the United States’ National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is associated with consuming higher-quality lunches and diets overall, but little is known about differences by income and race/ethnicity. This analysis used 24 h dietary recall data from the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study to examine how NSLP participation affects the diet quality of students in different income and racial/ethnic subgroups. Diet quality at lunch and over 24 h was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2010, where higher scores indicate higher-quality intakes. HEI-2010 scores for NSLP participants and nonparticipants in each subgroup were estimated, and two-tailed t-tests were conducted to determine whether participant–nonparticipant differences in scores within each subgroup were statistically significant. NSLP participants’ lunches received significantly higher total HEI-2010 scores than those of nonparticipants for lower-income, higher-income, non-Hispanic White, and non-Hispanic Black students, suggesting that participating in the NSLP helps most students consume healthier lunches. These significantly higher total scores for participants’ lunch intakes persisted over 24 h for higher-income students and non-Hispanic White students but not for lower-income students or students of other races/ethnicities. For NSLP participants in all subgroups, the nutritional quality of their 24 h intakes was much lower than at lunch, suggesting that the positive influence of the NSLP on their overall diet quality was negatively influenced by foods consumed the rest of the day (outside of lunch).

Salad Bars and Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Title I Elementary Schools.

Despite widespread support for salad bars as a means to increase fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake within the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), empirical support for their use is limited. This cross-sectional study examined associations between salad bar access and F&V selection and consumption in Title I elementary schools in Virginia serving universal free meals. Three matched pairs of schools (3 with salad bars; 3 without [control]) were randomly selected. Digital imagery plate waste methods assessed F&V selection, waste, and consumption. N = 1559 trays (N = 760 salad bar; N = 799 control) from 1st-5th grade students were analyzed (92.5% NSLP participation; 98.6% racial/ethnic minority). Salad bar usage varied widely (8.2%-63.8%). Different patterns of F&V selection and consumption were observed across pairs. Vegetable selection was higher in one salad bar school (+43.6g; q < .001) and vegetable consumption higher in 2 salad bar schools (+15.3g [q = .005]; +8.3g [q = .022]), compared with matched controls. Students in 2 salad bar schools selected more fruit than controls (+30.2g and +18g; qs < .001), yet fruit consumption differed across all 3 pairs. Salad bar access might facilitate children's vegetable intake. Inconsistent results across school pairs suggest that school food environment factors other than salad bar access influenced F&V consumption.

Association of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act With Dietary Quality Among Children in the US National School Lunch Program

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, implemented nationwide in 2012, was intended to improve the nutritional quality of meals served in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). To assess whether there was an association between the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 and dietary quality of lunch for students participating in the NSLP, stratified by income. Serial cross-sectional study design, using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2007-2008, 2009-2010, 2013-2014, and 2015-2016, of students who were surveyed in the NHANES and were attending schools participating in the NSLP. Individuals who were aged 5 to 18 years, in kindergarten through 12th grade, enrolled in a school that served school lunch, and had a reliable weekday dietary recall were included. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (prepolicy period: 2007-2010; postpolicy period: 2013-2016), with participation in the NSLP estimated based on an algorithm. The primary outcome was dietary quality of intake for lunch, measured by the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) score (range, 0-100; 0 indicates a diet with no adherence to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and 100 indicates a diet with complete adherence to the guidelines). Among 6389 students included in the surveys (mean age, 11.7 [95% CI, 11.6-11.9] years; 3145 [50%] female students; 1880 [56%] were non-Hispanic white), 32% were low-income, 12% were low-middle-income, and 56% were middle-high-income students. A total of 2472 (39%) were participants in the NSLP. Among low-income students, the adjusted mean prepolicy HEI-2010 score was 42.7 and the postpolicy score was 54.6 among NSLP participants and the adjusted mean prepolicy score was 34.8 and postpolicy score was 34.1 among NSLP nonparticipants (difference in differences, 12.6 [95% CI, 8.9-16.3]). Among low-middle-income students, the adjusted mean prepolicy HEI-2010 score was 40.4 and postpolicy score was 54.8 among NSLP participants and the adjusted mean prepolicy score was 34.2 and postpolicy score was 36.1 among NSLP nonparticipants (difference in differences, 12.4 [95% CI, 4.9-19.9]). Among middle-high-income students, the adjusted mean HEI-2010 prepolicy score was 42.7 and postpolicy score 55.5 for NSLP participants and the adjusted mean prepolicy score was 38.9 and prepolicy score was 43.6 for NSLP nonparticipants (difference in differences, 8.1 [95% CI, 4.2-12.0]). In a serial cross-sectional study of students, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 was associated with better changes in dietary quality for lunch among presumed low-income, low-middle-income, and middle-high-income participants in the NSLP compared with nonparticipants.

Sodium and Sugar Intake Comparison Among Participants of the USDA National School Lunch Program Versus Non-Participants Based on 2015–2016 NHANES Survey

Abstract Objectives The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) surveys the overall health and well-being of participants nationwide. To address rising obesity rates in the US, the USDA implemented revisions in 2010 to the NSLP targeting sodium and sugar intake reduction. Our objective was to compare intake of sodium and sugar between NSLP participants and non-NSLP participants. Methods Data from 2015–2016 NHANES survey were analyzed, which is after the implementations of the USDA revisions. All children (4–15 years) with two 24-hr dietary recalls were included. Mean intake for sugar and sodium were computed between the 2 recalls. NSLP participants were those who reported 2–5 school lunches per week whereas those reporting one school lunch per week or none were considered as not participating. Analyses were stratified by the following ages groups: 4–8y; 9–13y; and 14–15y. ANCOVA, adjusted for gender, was used to compare normalized intakes of sugar and sodium. Results A total of 1370 children were included (49% were females). Sugar intake was similar between NSLP or non-NSLP participants in children 4–8y. In children 9–13y, sugar intake was higher in NSLP participants (101 ± 2.31 g/d) versus non-NSLP participants (95.2 ± 1.94 g/d; P = 0.010) but lower in children 14–15y in NSLP participants (95.7 ± 2.44 g/d) versus non-NSLP participants (106 ± 2.67 g/d; P = 0.022). Sodium intake was higher in NSLP participants (2731 ± 8.64 mg/d) versus non-NSLP participants (2583 ± 9.69 mg/d; P = 0.020) in children 4–8y and also in children 9–13y (NSLP participants 3097 ± 10.4 mg/d; non-NSLP participants 2852 ± 8.07; P &amp;lt; 0.001) but only lower among NSLP participants (3102 ± 10.3 mg/d) versus non-NSLP participants (3240 ± 12.4 mg/d; P = 0.002) in children 14–15y. Conclusions The effects of the new NSLP recommendations are conflicting compared with children not participating in the program. Sugar and sodium intakes were generally higher among NSLP participants between the ages of 9–13 years old. This suggests that despite recommendations to reduce sodium and sugar intake among school children, these nutrients might still be of concern. In short, this study indicates that a greater investment on education is needed and that further research should assess the effect of changes on NSLP recommendations through time. Funding Sources Florida International University.

Ensuring Equitable Access to School Meals

Ensuring Equitable Access to School Meals

Student, Neighborhood, and School Factors and Their Association With College Readiness: Exploring the Implementation of a Race- and Socioeconomic-Based Student Assignment Plan

In response to the Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education Supreme Court decision, Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) reconfigured the district’s race-based student assignment and implemented a race- and socioeconomic-based student assignment plan. Using hierarchical linear multiple regression, this study examined students’ backgrounds and school composition factors within a race- and socioeconomic-based assignment plan to determine their relationship with college and career readiness as measured by the ACT. We found that student race, participation in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), ACT PLAN performance, school composition, and neighborhood category were the largest and most consistent factors for predicting college and career readiness. African American students were at a disadvantage in each model compared with White students. Participation in NSLP was negatively associated with student performance compared with non-NSLP students, and PLAN scores positively predicted ACT performance. School composition was found negatively associated with ACT performance (Title I compared with non–Title I schools), and Category 1 and Category 2 neighborhoods were negatively associated with ACT scores compared with Category 3 neighborhoods. We conclude by discussing implications for policy, practice, and future research.

School Lunch Consumption and Obesity in NHANES 2013–2014 (P04-189-19)

ObjectivesIn the United States (US), 30 million children participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) each day. In 2012, there were several changes in the NSLP dietary standards, such as increasing fruits and vegetables, fat-free and low-fat milk only, zero grams of trans fat per serving, and limit on saturated fat. However, it is unknown if those changes in the NSLP have led to improvements in preventing overweight/obesity. Therefore, the objective of this analysis was to evaluate the association between frequency of participation in NSLP and overweight/obesity among children in the US. MethodsWe analyzed NHANES 2013–2014 data. We used BMI percentiles, which was categorized as underweight (BMI < 5th percentile), healthy weight (BMI 5th to <85th percentile), overweight (BMI 85th to < 95th percentile), and obese (BMI ≥ 95th percentile). We also used responses to participation frequency in NSLP. Logistic regression was used to analyze this association. ResultsAfter removing underweight children, 2962 children (aged 4–19) were included in the analysis. A total of 62.4% of children had healthy weight, 17.7% were overweight, and 19.9% were obese. Only 17.6% of children were not participating in the NSLP, 14% participated 1–3 times per week and 68.4% participated 4–5 times per week. Compared to children participating in the NSLP 4–5 times per week, those not participating in the NSLP had a similar risk of overweight/obesity (OR 0.872; 95% CI: 0.697, 1.090) and those participating in the NSLP 1–3 times per week also had a similar risk of overweight/obesity (OR 1.023; 95% CI: 0.803, 1.302). The results are similar if stratifying by school level (elementary or middle/high school). ConclusionsParticipation in the NSLP is not associated with overweight/obesity in NHANES 2013–2014. Future longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these results. Funding SourcesFlorida International University internal funds.

Evaluation of the Factors Influencing Participation in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) for Latino Students During Middle School and High School Years

Background and Purpose: In California, approximately 3.2 million students participated in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP in 2015). It is estimated that Latino students received over 760,000 meals through the NSLP program. This study evaluates factors that influence middle and high school Latino students’ participation in the (NSLP). Methods: Study participants were a convenience sample of students (n = 232) utilizing a 22-question survey tool. The independent variables were grade level, gender, ethnicity, perceived social stigma, competitive foods served on and off campus, peer influences and parental influences. The dependent variable was participation in the NSLP. T-test, ANOVA, and Stepwise multiple regression were used to answer the research questions. Results: Latino students were not significantly different from non-Latino students in their participation rates in the NSLP. There were several significant predictors of NSLP participation for Latino students. Meal eligibility was the only significant predictor of participation in the NSLP for Latino students who are low-participators. Conclusions: Latino students are different from non-Latino students in the factors that influence their participation in the NSLP. Future research is needed to clarify the factors impacting Latino NSLP participation.

Economic Analysis of Local Food Procurement in Southwest Florida's Farm to School Programs

Farm-to-school (F2S) programs aim to educate people about food and farming, to increase the availability of fresh, nutritious foods, and to improve health outcomes among children. Nationally, all states have school districts that self-identify as farm-to-school program participants. National and regional food procurement systems account for the majority of food purchased by National School Lunch Program participants, but school foodservice authorities (SFA) who purchase food from farmers often do so in the context of strengthening their farm-to-school program (U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA], n.d.-b). A greater number of local supply chain participants benefit when food is sourced in state (locally) rather than out-of-state because more money ends up in the pockets of local producers and distribu­tors. Local fruit and vegetable producers and SFAs interested in developing business partnerships for local procurement would benefit from recommen­dations on menu-appropriate fresh market prod­ucts, volume, and purchase prices. However, detailed data sets from SFAs are uncommon, limiting opportunities to advance procurement efforts. The objective for this project was to begin developing local procurement recommendations for other Florida school districts based on the purchasing history and experiences of the Sarasota County School District (SCSD). In 2014, Sarasota County, Florida, received a USDA F2S implementation grant, affording it the opportunity to develop its local procurement efforts. One deliverable from that project was a robust data set of school food purchases over a two-year period. With permission SCSD, we analyzed seasonal purchase variations and market prices of local and out-of-state fresh fruits, vege­tables, and egg purchases for 38 public schools in the SCSD. In this paper, we present an approach to estimate the potential of local procurement viability in the context of an emerging districtwide F2S program and recommend system changes based on the success of procurement efforts in SCSD and surrounding school districts in Southwest Florida.