Cardiovascular health promotion for school children. 2. Observations on institutional food service change affecting student eating behavior
1989
Frank, G.C. | Nicklas, T.A. | Forcier, J.E. | Berenson, G.S.
A school-based cardiovascular (CV) health promotion program linked program process evaluation with assessment of student behavioral change. One part of the health promotion involved school lunch modification; another included nutrition curriculum and observations of student eating behavior. Dietary objectives for the Heart Smart school lunch program included reducing sugar content by 50%, salt by 50%, and fat to 30%. Microcomputer nutrient analysis of menus based on weighed portions of actual student consumption showed appreciable decrease in these nutrients for CV-healthy foods compared with usual menu items. A comparison of laboratory analysis of sodium content of select lunches with tabular food values yielded no consistent direction of error. No marked difference was observed in the amount of plate waste for the CV-healthy versus non-CV-healthy foods. Student self-report of lunch selections was evaluated using an optical scan procedure. This method became a useful tool for tracking behavioral change and documenting school lunch selections. During developmental stages of the program no significant changes in school lunch selections were noted after students were exposed to the CV-healthy curriculum over a short period of time. Although the CV health promotion program and school lunch modification continue to be improved it represents a unique integrated approach for CV health promotion by requiring concomitant institutional and student behavioral changes.
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