Availability and consumption of competitive foods in US public schools

J Am Diet Assoc. 2009 Feb;109(2 Suppl):S57-66. doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2008.10.063.

Abstract

Background: With ongoing efforts to develop and implement school wellness policies, there is a need for information about the availability and consumption of competitive foods in schools.

Objective: To describe the availability of competitive foods in US public schools, consumption of competitive foods by children, and contributions of competitive foods to energy intakes.

Design: The study used data from the third School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study, a cross-sectional study that included a national sample of public school districts, schools, and children in the 2004-2005 school year. On-site observations were used to document the availability of competitive foods and a 24-hour recall was used to assess children's consumption of competitive foods.

Subjects/setting: The study included 287 schools and 2,314 children in grades 1 through 12.

Statistical analyses performed: Most analyses were limited to estimation of means and proportions. Two-tailed t tests were used to test the significance of differences between children who did and did not eat a school lunch.

Results: In school year 2004-2005, competitive foods were widely available in public schools. Overall, 40% of children consumed one or more competitive foods on a typical school day. The most commonly consumed competitive foods were foods and beverages that were low in nutrients and energy-dense. Children who ate a school lunch were significantly less likely than children who did not eat a school lunch to consume competitive foods (36% vs 45%; P<0.01); however, the leading competitive food choices for both groups of children were foods that were low in nutrients and energy-dense. On average, competitive food consumers who ate school lunches obtained 159 calories from competitive foods that were low in nutrients and energy-dense, compared with 201 calories for competitive food consumers who did not eat school lunches (P<0.05).

Conclusions: In school year 2004-2005, competitive foods were widely available and consumed in US public schools and the most commonly consumed competitive foods were low in nutrients and energy-dense. These data support the need for improvements in school food environments and policies and provide a useful baseline for monitoring change as schools work to make these improvements.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Beverages / adverse effects
  • Carbonated Beverages / adverse effects
  • Child
  • Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / physiology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Dietary Fats / administration & dosage
  • Dietary Fats / adverse effects
  • Energy Intake / physiology*
  • Female
  • Food / standards*
  • Food Dispensers, Automatic / statistics & numerical data*
  • Food Supply / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Recall
  • Nutrition Policy
  • Nutrition Surveys
  • Nutritive Value
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Obesity / etiology
  • Schools*
  • United States

Substances

  • Dietary Fats