National School Meals Study Components

The National School Meals Study included the following components:

• A "menu survey" designed to obtain detailed data on what foods students are offered and served under the NSLP and SBP, as well as information about competitive foods sold in schools.
  
• A 24-hour dietary recall interview with schoolchildren to record foods eaten over a 24-hour period, including both reimbursable meals and competitive foods obtained in schools, as well as foods obtained outside the school. A second dietary recall with a randomly selected subset of children adjusts for variability of intake over time and estimates the distribution of "usual" intakes of key nutrients.
  
• Child and parent interviews. The parent survey obtained information on household characteristics, including size and income, which determine eligibility for free or reduced-price meals under the NSLP and SBP. Interviewers obtained data from both students and parents on customer satisfaction and factors that may affect participation.
  
• Surveys of school district staff—including school principals, SFA directors, and kitchen managers—to obtain information about school food service operations and other aspects of the school environment (such as scheduling, nutrition education, and physical education) that could affect the quality of meals offered, students' participation in the school meal programs, and student's nutritional outcomes. In addition, interviewers observed cafeteria conditions in schools.

Back to Top