Healthy school nutrition environments

Objectives The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) developed Changing the Scene: Improving the School Nutrition Environment to promote a healthy school nutrition environment (HSNE). The objective of an HSNE is to give students consistent, reliable health information and ample opportunity to use it. The purpose of this study is to learn more about issues related to HSNEs from the perspective of school personnel, and to compare the opinions that school foodservice personnel (SFP) and other school personnel (OSP) have toward developing HSNEs. Methods In October 2002, a nationwide survey was mailed to a random sample of K-12 school foodservice directors, foodservice managers, superintendents, principals, school business officials, teachers, and coaches. A total of 3,500 surveys were mailed, 500 from each group. Results The response rate was 34.9% (n=1,222) with 49.1% (n=600) of the responses from SFP and 50.9% (n=622) of the responses from OSP. Eighty-nine percent of respondents were from districts that participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). According to the survey, an HSNE was a high priority for 68% of SFP and 38% of OSP. Thirty-three percent of SFP and 47% of OSP selected family education as the most important factor in increasing awareness of an HSNE. Both groups ranked behavior-focused nutrition education by staff, with appropriate training and adequate funds provided by local, state, and federal sources, as the most significant components of an HSNE. For the most prominent barriers to an HSNE, SFP chose funding for school foodservice, competitive foods, and children's peer pressure, while OSP chose television/media, funding for school foodservice, and competitive foods. Application to Child Nutrition Professionals To address the nutritional quality of foods offered and sold other than reimbursable school meals and snacks, the development of federal, state, and district policies is needed. The results of this study could be presented to school district stakeholders during the wellness policy development process to illustrate the need for changes that will improve the HSNE. Additionally, the results of this study showed that all school personnel need to work together on policies and programs to improve their HSNEs.