A food service intervention improves whole grain access at lunch in rural elementary schools.
BACKGROUND
Whole grain (WG) options are often limited in schools, which may impact rural, low-income students who rely on school meals for a substantial portion of their food intake. This study examined the changes in the availability and quantity of WG and refined grain foods offered in schools participating in the Creating Healthy, Active and Nurturing Growing-up Environments (CHANGE) study, a randomized, controlled intervention among rural communities (4 intervention and 4 control).


METHODS
Foods were assessed using production records, recipes, and nutrition labels from breakfast and lunch over 1 week during fall 2008 and spring 2009. Key informant interviews were conducted with school food service directors in the spring 2009.


RESULTS
The CHANGE intervention schools significantly increased the average percent of school days WGs were offered (p = .047) and the amount of WGs offered/food item (ounces) at lunch compared with control schools (p = .02). There was a significant decrease in the percent of students with access to refined grains at lunch compared with control schools (p = .049), although there were no significant differences in WG availability during breakfast.


CONCLUSIONS
The CHANGE schools improved WG availability, enabling student's WG consumption to be closer to national recommendations.
Research Fellow, (Jcohen@hsph.harvard.edu), Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115.
Juliana F W
JF
Cohen
Eric B
EB
Rimm
S Bryn
SB
Austin
Raymond R
RR
Hyatt
Vivica I
VI
Kraak
Christina D
CD
Economos
D015992:Body Mass Index; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011204:Poverty Areas; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012424:Rural Population; D012574:Schools
school food service; whole grain