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School Lunch Practices and Policies in Oklahoma Elementary Schools
Author(s) -
Kennedy Tay Seacord,
Johnson Christine A
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a856-a
Subject(s) - metropolitan area , school meal , interview , food service , junk food , meal , medicine , nutrition education , portion size , cafeteria , medical education , business , environmental health , marketing , political science , gerontology , food science , obesity , chemistry , pathology , law
School lunch policies and practices in Oklahoma were surveyed from a sample of 304 elementary schools randomly selected from the Education Department's database. Interviews with school personnel were conducted in September 2003 using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing. Questions included items on school lunch policy, vending machine use, and “junk food” policies. Response rate was 79% with a margin of error ± 4.73%. Responses were compared to national data from the School Health Policies and Programs Study. Fewer school districts had a district‐wide food service coordinator (82%) than nationally (p=.001). Half of the coordinators (51%) had only a high school education and only 11% were registered dietitians. Nationally 20% of schools had a nutrition advisory board but only 7% of Oklahoma schools had a board (p<0.0001). Compared to national data, Oklahoma schools were less likely to offer more than one entrée per meal (p =.01), offer tastes of new foods (p =.03) or list nutrition information on menus (p<.000). Schools were more likely to have nutrition information in hallways (p<.000) and require fruits in a la carte lunches (p<.000). Vending machines were available for student use in 45% of schools. However, 14% of schools restricted junk food in vending machines: more than the national rate (p<0.0001). Schools with the fewest students receiving free or reduced lunch (p=0.004) or in metropolitan areas (p=0.002) were most likely to prohibit junk food in machines. Information on specific local practices and policies allow local newly mandated local nutrition committees to establish comparative benchmarks for their school's nutrition programs.