How the CATCH eat smart program helps implement the USDA regulations in school cafeterias.
This article describes the implementation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National School Lunch Program (NSLP) standards in school lunch menus in 56 intervention and 20 control schools from the Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health (CATCH) 5 years after the main trial, compared with 12 schools previously unexposed to CATCH. School food service personnel completed questionnaires to assess CATCH guideline implementation, demographic data, behavioral constructs, training, program material use, and participation in competing programs. Five days of menus and recipes were collected from school cafeteria staff, averaged, and compared to USDA School Meal Initiative (SMI) standards. Significant differences between intervention and unexposed schools were found for training and knowledge of CATCH and in mean percentage energy from fat and carbohydrates. Intervention schools most closely met USDA SMI recommendations for fat. Thus, the CATCH Eat Smart Program assisted school cafeterias in meeting USDA guidelines 5 years postimplementation.
Hoelscher
Deanna M
DM
Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas at Houston, School of Public Health, Houston 77030, USA. Deanna.M.Hoelscher@uth.tmc.edu
Mitchell
Paul
P
Dwyer
Johanna
J
Elder
John
J
Clesi
Ann
A
Snyder
Patricia
P
D000293:Adolescent; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services / Q000592:standards*; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014481:United States; D037041:United States Government Agencies
D004041:Dietary Fats; D012982:Sodium, Dietary