Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2017 Feb;20(3):556-564.
doi: 10.1017/S1368980016002044. Epub 2016 Aug 30.

How do we actually put smarter snacks in schools? NOURISH (Nutrition Opportunities to Understand Reforms Involving Student Health) conversations with food-service directors

Lindsay E Rosenfeld  1 , Juliana Fw Cohen  2 , Mary T Gorski  3 , Andrés J Lessing  1 , Lauren Smith  4 , Eric B Rimm  2 , Jessica A Hoffman  5
Affiliations

How do we actually put smarter snacks in schools? NOURISH (Nutrition Opportunities to Understand Reforms Involving Student Health) conversations with food-service directors

Lindsay E Rosenfeld et al. Public Health Nutr. 2017 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: In autumn 2012, Massachusetts schools implemented comprehensive competitive food and beverage standards similar to the US Department of Agriculture's Smart Snacks in School standards. We explored major themes raised by food-service directors (FSD) regarding their school-district-wide implementation of the standards.

Design: For this qualitative study, part of a larger mixed-methods study, compliance was measured via direct observation of foods and beverages during school site visits in spring 2013 and 2014, calculated to ascertain the percentage of compliant products available to students. Semi-structured interviews with school FSD conducted in each year were analysed for major implementation themes; those raised by more than two-thirds of participating school districts were explored in relationship to compliance.

Setting: Massachusetts school districts (2013: n 26; 2014: n 21).

Subjects: Data collected from FSD.

Results: Seven major themes were raised by more than two-thirds of participating school districts (range 69-100 %): taking measures for successful transition; communicating with vendors/manufacturers; using tools to identify compliant foods and beverages; receiving support from leadership; grappling with issues not covered by the law; anticipating changes in sales of competitive foods and beverages; and anticipating changes in sales of school meals. Each theme was mentioned by the majority of more-compliant school districts (65-81 %), with themes being raised more frequently after the second year of implementation (range increase 4-14 %).

Conclusions: FSD in more-compliant districts were more likely to talk about themes than those in less-compliant districts. Identified themes suggest best-practice recommendations likely useful for school districts implementing the final Smart Snacks in School standards, effective July 2016.

Keywords: Food-service directors; School health; School nutrition guidelines; Smart Snacks in School.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Chriqui J, Turner L, Taber D et al. (2013) Association between district and state policies and US public elementary school competitive food and beverage environments. JAMA Pediatr 167, 714–722. - PubMed
    1. Taber D, Chriqui J, Perna F et al. (2012) Weight status among adolescents in states that govern competitive food nutrition content. Pediatrics 130, 437–444. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Kids’ Safe & Healful Foods Project & Health Impact Project (2012) Health Impact Assessment: National Nutrition Standards for Snack and a la Carte Foods and Beverages. http://www.pewtrusts.org/~/media/assets/2012/06/snackfoodshealthimpactas... (accessed July 2016).
    1. Cohen JF, Gorski MT, Hoffman JA et al. (2016) Healthier standards for school meals and snacks: impact on school food revenues and lunch participation rates. Am J Prev Med (Epublication ahead of print version). - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bassler EJ, Chriqui JF, Stagg K et al. (2013) Controlling Junk Food and the Bottom Line: Case Studies of Schools Successfully Implementing Strong Nutrition Standards for Competitive Foods and Beverages. Chicago, IL: Illinois Public Health Institute.

Publication types