Diet, Food, and Nutrition
Conditions
Brief summary
This project is a research study looking at what foods students choose and eat during school lunch and examines how salad bars impact what children eat.
Detailed description
This project applies a wait list control cluster randomized controlled trial to evaluate school salad bars. This project uses digital images (pictures) of labeled trays in the cafeteria before and after children eat lunch. This project also asks cafeteria workers about their thoughts about salad bars and their experiences with the salad bar program.
Interventions
OTHERSalad bar
Schools where the school district has installed salad bars
OTHERWaitlisted control
Schools where the school district has not yet installed salad bars
OTHERSalad bar post-COVID
Schools where the school distract has re-opened salad bars will have methods repeated in a subset of schools post-COVID-19
Sponsors
George Mason University
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Virginia Commonwealth University
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
5 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Students: All K-6th grade students at target schools who participate in the school lunch program on rating day * Cafeteria staff: All cafeteria personnel at the randomly selected target schools will be eligible to complete surveys
Exclusion criteria
* Students: Unsure sex of child * Cafeteria staff: None
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| fruits and vegetables (FV) selection | Baseline to up to 6 weeks after salad bars installed | Amount of FV selection will be calculated based on digital photographs of student's lunch trays before consumption |
| FV consumption | Baseline to up to 6 weeks after salad bars installed | Amount of FV consumed will be calculated by subtracting amount of FV remaining after lunch is consumed from amount of FV selected based on digital photographs of student's lunch trays before and after consumption. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| fruits and vegetables (FV) selection post-COVID-19 | 4-6 weeks after salad bars re-installed | To examine the the impact of salad bars on student dietary intake patterns after their reintroduction post-COVID-19 school closures. Amount of FV selection will be calculated based on digital photographs of student's lunch trays before consumption |
| FV consumption post-COVID-19 | 4-6 weeks after salad bars re-installed | To examine the the impact of salad bars on student dietary intake patterns after their reintroduction post-COVID-19 school closures. Amount of FV consumed will be calculated by subtracting amount of FV remaining after lunch is consumed from amount of FV selected based on digital photographs of student's lunch trays before and after consumption. |
| energy intake (kcal) | Baseline to up to 6 weeks after salad bars installed | Amount of calories consumed will be calculated by subtracting the total amount of calories remaining on trays from the total amount of calories initially selected based on digital photographs of student's lunch trays before and after consumption. |
| dietary quality (Healthy Eating Index) post-COVID-19 | 4-6 weeks after salad bars re-installed | To examine the the impact of salad bars on student dietary intake patterns after their reintroduction post-COVID-19 school closures. The Healthy Eating Index will be calculated for food and beverages consumed at lunch (amount on the tray before minus after consumption) using NDSR |
| energy intake (kcal) post-COVID-19 | 4-6 weeks after salad bars re-installed | To examine the the impact of salad bars on student dietary intake patterns after their reintroduction post-COVID-19 school closures. Amount of calories consumed will be calculated by subtracting the total amount of calories remaining on trays from the total amount of calories initially selected based on digital photographs of student's lunch trays before and after consumption. |
| dietary quality (Healthy Eating Index) | Baseline to up to 6 weeks after salad bars installed | the Healthy Eating Index will be calculated for food and beverages consumed at lunch (amount on the tray before minus after consumption) using NDSR |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed