The Effect of Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act on School Meals

Presenter Information

Dana Ogan

Document Type

Oral Presentation

Campus where you would like to present

SURC Ballroom B/C/D

Start Date

21-5-2015

End Date

21-5-2015

Keywords

School Lunch, Nutrition, Child

Abstract

Nearly 31 million children eat National School Lunch Program (NSLP) meals each day. In order to improve the nutritional quality of the NSLP, standards for government subsidized school lunches changed in July, 2012, under the Healthy Hunger-free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA). In Spring of 2012, digital photographs of NSLP lunches were taken before and after meal consumption in four elementary schools, prior to enactment of HHFKA. In Spring of 2013, after enactment of the HHFKA, digital photographs of lunch were again taken in the same schools. The photos were used to make estimates of nutritional content of meals selected and consumed. Comparison between the pre-HHFKA meals and the post-HHFKA meals revealed significant differences between the 2012 and 2013 mean nutrient content selected and consumed for food energy, total fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, protein, calcium, fiber, cholesterol, sodium, and vitamin C. Saturated fat and sodium selection was significantly different: Saturated Fat: 6.1 grams (2012) and 3.5 grams (2013); Sodium: 1148 mg (2012) and 909 mg (2013), p<.05. No significant differences between 2012 and 2013 mean nutrient content selected and consumed for iron and vitamin A were found. In conclusion, the 2013 meals using new HHFKA guidelines offered a better meal and resulted in improved intake.

Poster Number

31

Faculty Mentor(s)

Ethan Bergman, Emily Shaw, Tim Englund

Department/Program

Nutrition, Exercise & Health Science

Additional Mentoring Department

Nutrition, Exercise & Health Science

Additional Mentoring Department

Nutrition, Exercise & Health Sciences

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May 21st, 11:30 AM May 21st, 2:00 PM

The Effect of Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act on School Meals

SURC Ballroom B/C/D

Nearly 31 million children eat National School Lunch Program (NSLP) meals each day. In order to improve the nutritional quality of the NSLP, standards for government subsidized school lunches changed in July, 2012, under the Healthy Hunger-free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA). In Spring of 2012, digital photographs of NSLP lunches were taken before and after meal consumption in four elementary schools, prior to enactment of HHFKA. In Spring of 2013, after enactment of the HHFKA, digital photographs of lunch were again taken in the same schools. The photos were used to make estimates of nutritional content of meals selected and consumed. Comparison between the pre-HHFKA meals and the post-HHFKA meals revealed significant differences between the 2012 and 2013 mean nutrient content selected and consumed for food energy, total fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, protein, calcium, fiber, cholesterol, sodium, and vitamin C. Saturated fat and sodium selection was significantly different: Saturated Fat: 6.1 grams (2012) and 3.5 grams (2013); Sodium: 1148 mg (2012) and 909 mg (2013), p<.05. No significant differences between 2012 and 2013 mean nutrient content selected and consumed for iron and vitamin A were found. In conclusion, the 2013 meals using new HHFKA guidelines offered a better meal and resulted in improved intake.