Great Taste, Less Waste: a cluster-randomized trial using a communications campaign to improve the quality of foods brought from home to school by elementary school children.
OBJECTIVE
Great Taste, Less Waste (GTLW), a communications campaign, capitalized on the synergy between healthy eating and eco-friendly behaviors to motivate children to bring more fruits and vegetables and fewer sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) to school.


METHODS
A cluster-randomized trial in Eastern Massachusetts elementary schools in 2011-2012 tested the hypothesis that GTLW would improve the quality of foods from home more than a nutrition-only campaign--Foods 2 Choose (F2C)--or control. Lunch and snack items from home were measured at baseline and 7 months later using digital photography. Mixed linear models compared change in mean servings of fruits, vegetables, and SSBs among groups, and change in mean prevalence of packaging type. Change in prevalence of food items of interest was compared among groups using generalized linear models.


RESULTS
Five hundred and eighty-two third and fourth graders from 82 classrooms in 12 schools participated. At follow-up, no significant differences were observed between groups in change in mean servings or change in prevalence of items of interest. No packaging differences were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
GTLW was well received, but no significant changes were observed in the quality of food brought to school. Whether classrooms are an effective environment for change remains to be explored. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT0157384.
Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA. Electronic address: jeanne.goldberg@tufts.edu.
Jeanne P
JP
Goldberg
Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA. Electronic address: sara.folta@tufts.edu.
Sara C
SC
Folta
Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA. Electronic address: misha.eliasziw@tufts.edu.
Misha
M
Eliasziw
Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA. Electronic address: susan.koch_weser@tufts.edu.
Susan
S
Koch-Weser
Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA. Electronic address: christina.economos@tufts.edu.
Christina D
CD
Economos
Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA. Electronic address: kristie.hubbard@tufts.edu.
Kristie L
KL
Hubbard
Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA. Electronic address: lindsay.tanskey@tufts.edu.
Lindsay A
LA
Tanskey
Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA. Electronic address: catherine.wright@tufts.edu.
Catherine M
CM
Wright
Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA. Electronic address: aviva.must@tufts.edu.
Aviva
A
Must
D057189:Checklist; D002648:Child; D053198:Child Nutrition Sciences / Q000193:education*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D005260:Female; D063427:Food Quality; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D062409:Lunch; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D010781:Photography; D012574:Schools; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013192:Staff Development / Q000379:methods; D055697:Taste Perception; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D014675:Vegetables
Behavioral intervention; Elementary school children; Fruits and vegetables; Innovative approaches; Nutrition communication