title: Can providing a morning healthy snack help to reduce hunger during school time? Experimental evidence from an elementary school in Connecticut.
abstract: While children may be naturally inclined to regulate their hunger, they are also guided by adults and influenced by environmental constraints regarding when and how much to eat. As such, the timing and availability of meals could alter a child's natural eating habits. This could impact the nutritional quality of what they eat as well. We conducted a field experiment with three fourth grade classes at a public elementary school in Eastern Connecticut to analyze if providing a nutritious snack one hour prior to lunch effects a child's level of hunger and consequently their lunch-time consumption. We found students shift their caloric and nutrient intake from lunch to snack time. In addition, we found a significant reduction in student hunger. Our results highlight the importance in considering the timing and quality of meals provided during school time. In our sample, current snack and lunch schedule may not be optimal and changing it can have an impact on the wellbeing of students. Providing healthful options for snack could be an effective way to improve student diets while preserving their ability to make their own choices.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Economia Agro-Alimentare, Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy; The Zwick Center for Food and Resource Policy, University of Connecticut, USA. Electronic address: elena.castellari@unicatt.it.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Castellari
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Berning
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003237:Connecticut; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger; D062409:Lunch / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D012574:Schools; D062410:Snacks; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Childhood obesity; Hunger-driven choices; School food interventions; School meal programs; School nutrition