Local School Policy Changes Impact Nutrition

Schools provide one to two meals per day, giving children the opportunity practice food behaviors and make choices. With rising obesity rates among children, there is a trend to mandate both statewide local school policy changes. Karen Cullen, Associate Professor at the USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center has looked at the impact local school food policy student dietary behavior in middle schools. National School Lunch Program meals must follow specific federal guidelines; however there are no federal rules for foods sold elsewhere the school such as vending machines or snack bars.

Dr. Cullen’s study evaluated middle school children’s consumption before and after a local school policy removed snack chips, candy, sweet desserts and sweetened beverages from the school snack bars.

In general, student consumption of sweetened beverages declined and milk, calcium, vitamin A, saturated fat and sodium increased after the policy change. Snack chip consumption from the snack bar declined after the policy change. The consumption of snack chips and candy from vending machines increased and the number of vending machines doubled following the school policy change since the school food service did not control the vending machines.

Dr. Cullen concluded that policy changes on foods sold in schools can result in changes in student consumption patterns, which can potentially lead to a healthier diet. However, Dr. Cullen adds, “If all school environments do not make similar changes, students may vary where they spend their food money (i.e. from snack bars to vending machines) or they may choose another item to replace a food no longer available (i.e. ice cream to replace a candy bar.)” Additional information about Dr. Cullen’s research can be found in the September 2006 issue of Public Health Nutrition. For additional information about Dr. Cullen’s research, visit www.kidsnutrition.org/faculty/cullen.htm.