Improvements in middle school student dietary intake after implementation of the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy.
OBJECTIVE
We assessed the effect of the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy on middle school student lunchtime food consumption.


METHODS
Three years of lunch food records were collected from middle school students in southeast Texas: baseline (2001-2002), after local district changes (2002-2003), and 1 year after implementation of the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy (2005-2006). Students recorded amount and source of foods and beverages they consumed. Analysis of variance and covariance and nonparametric tests were used to compare intake after the policy change with intake during the 2 previous years.


RESULTS
After implementation of the nutrition policy, student lunch consumption of vegetables, milk, and several nutrients increased (protein, fiber, vitamins A and C, calcium, and sodium), and consumption of less desirable items (sweetened beverages, snack chips) decreased, as did percentage of energy from fat. Most of the desired nutrients and foods (vegetables and milk) were obtained from the National School Lunch Program meal. Fewer sweetened beverages, candy, chips, and dessert foods were purchased and consumed, but more of these items were brought from home and purchased from the snack bar.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, state school nutrition policies can improve the healthfulness of foods consumed by students at lunch.
Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1100 Bates Street, Houston, TX 77030-2600, USA. kcullen@bcm.tmc.edu
Karen Weber
KW
Cullen
Kathy
K
Watson
Issa
I
Zakeri
D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005522:Food Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D018673:Nutrition Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000639:trends; D012574:Schools; D013781:Texas