Document Type

Thesis

Date of Degree Completion

Spring 2015

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Nutrition

Committee Chair

Ethan A. Bergman

Second Committee Member

Timothy Englund

Third Committee Member

Dana Ogan

Abstract

The relationship between school lunch quality and the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act (HHFKA) revised nutrition standards was investigated. School Lunches from four Washington State elementary schools that earned HealthierUS School Challenge awards. Nutrition content of the meals selected and consumed was assessed using before and after digital photos. Meals were scored using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) to determine meal quality. Results were based on 1033 lunches (509 pre-HHFKA in Spring 2012 and 524 in Spring 2013) and revealed improved HEI scores for most components post-HHFKA implementation school lunches both served and consumed. Implications of the differences in HEI scores are discussed.

Language

English

Included in

Nutrition Commons

Share

COinS