Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine if students that participated in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) were receiving an excessive or inadequate amount of macronutrients and micronutrients set by SMI nutrient standards and 2005 Dietary Guidelines. There were four research objectives regarding food selection trends, School Meals Initiative (SMI), 2005 Dietary Guidelines, and competitive foods. The researcher hypothesized the food selections by school-aged children would not meet the SMI nutrient standards and 2005 Dietary Guidelines.The study was a cross-section observational study that used a self-developed observation checklist. Quantitative data was gathered over the course of 5 days at a local elementary school in Illinois. The sample consisted of a stratified random sample of 881 students. The data was analyzed using frequencies and percentages.
The results indicated a high selection of milk (93% of students selected milk), lack of variety in the main entrees, and increased availability of fruits and vegetables as side items. The 5-day menu met the SMI nutrition standards and 2005 Dietary Guidelines for cholesterol (100% of days met requirement) and exceeded the requirements for sodium (60% of days met requirement). The student's food selections met the SMI nutrition standards and 2005 Dietary Guidelines for cholesterol (99% of students met requirement) and exceeded the requirements for sodium (55% of students met requirement). Furthermore, students that participated in the NSLP were less likely to select a competitive food (
| Date of Award | 2010 |
|---|---|
| Original language | American English |
| Awarding Institution |
|
| Supervisor | Karla Kennedy-Hagan (Supervisor) |