title: Sustainability and public health nutrition at school: assessing the integration of healthy and environmentally sustainable food initiatives in Vancouver schools.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the development and application of the School Food Environment Assessment Tools and a novel scoring system to assess the integration of healthy and environmentally sustainable food initiatives in elementary and secondary schools.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cross-sectional study included direct observations of physical food environments and interviews with key school personnel regarding food-related programmes and policies. A five-point scoring system was then developed to assess actions across six domains: (i) food gardens; (ii) composting systems; (iii) food preparation activities; (iv) food-related teaching and learning activities; and availability of (v) healthy food; and (vi) environmentally sustainable food.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vancouver, Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  A purposive sample of public schools (n 33) from all six sectors of the Vancouver Board of Education.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Schools scored highest in the areas of food garden and compost system development and use. Regular integration of food-related teaching and learning activities and hands-on food preparation experiences were also commonly reported. Most schools demonstrated rudimentary efforts to make healthy and environmentally sustainable food choices available, but in general scored lowest on these two domains. Moreover, no schools reported widespread initiatives fully supporting availability or integration of healthy or environmentally sustainable foods across campus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More work is needed in all areas to fully integrate programmes and policies that support healthy, environmentally sustainable food systems in Vancouver schools. The assessment tools and proposed indicators offer a practical approach for researchers, policy makers and school stakeholders to assess school food system environments, identify priority areas for intervention and track relevant changes over time.
authors.affiliation: 1Faculty of Land and Food Systems,Food Nutrition and Health,University of British Columbia,2205 East Mall,Vancouver,BC V6T 1Z4,Canada.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Black
authors.affiliation: 1Faculty of Land and Food Systems,Food Nutrition and Health,University of British Columbia,2205 East Mall,Vancouver,BC V6T 1Z4,Canada.
authors.forename: Cayley E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Velazquez
authors.affiliation: 1Faculty of Land and Food Systems,Food Nutrition and Health,University of British Columbia,2205 East Mall,Vancouver,BC V6T 1Z4,Canada.
authors.forename: Naseam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.affiliation: 1Faculty of Land and Food Systems,Food Nutrition and Health,University of British Columbia,2205 East Mall,Vancouver,BC V6T 1Z4,Canada.
authors.forename: Gwen E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.affiliation: 2Vancouver Coastal Health Authority,Vancouver,BC,Canada.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carten
authors.affiliation: 1Faculty of Land and Food Systems,Food Nutrition and Health,University of British Columbia,2205 East Mall,Vancouver,BC V6T 1Z4,Canada.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Edward
authors.affiliation: 1Faculty of Land and Food Systems,Food Nutrition and Health,University of British Columbia,2205 East Mall,Vancouver,BC V6T 1Z4,Canada.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shulhan
authors.affiliation: 1Faculty of Land and Food Systems,Food Nutrition and Health,University of British Columbia,2205 East Mall,Vancouver,BC V6T 1Z4,Canada.
authors.forename: Teya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.affiliation: 1Faculty of Land and Food Systems,Food Nutrition and Health,University of British Columbia,2205 East Mall,Vancouver,BC V6T 1Z4,Canada.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rojas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001955:British Columbia; D002648:Child; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003296:Cooking; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D004463:Ecology / Q000193:education*; D058735:Environmental Policy; D005522:Food Services; D005523:Food Supply; D051639:Gardening / Q000193:education; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006801:Humans; D006812:Humic Substances; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012574:Schools
chemical_list: D006812:Humic Substances
keywords: Environmental sustainability; Food environments; Food systems; Public health nutrition; School health