According to data from the USDA Economic Research Council, school meals account for approximately
10% of foods eaten outside the home [3]. Participation in school meals can include school
breakfast, snack, and lunch programs. Some children and adolescents are eligible for free or reduced
school meals, whereas others are required to self pay at a nominal cost. Other sources of food and
beverages provided in schools include à la carte snack programs, vending machines, special events,
and fundraising drives. Recent advocacy by parents, community groups, health professionals,
government agencies, and legislators has led to reforms in school food and beverage nutrient
standards that affect meals, snacks and vending machines, and fundraising food selections in some
school districts. However, the reforms have not reached the majority of the schools in the United
States.
The degree of participation in these programs varies, as do the food selections offered by the
schools and chosen by the children and adolescents. The practitioner can assess the effect of school
dining on weight management interventions by gathering information on the extent of participation
(how many meals/snacks per week including after-school programs), reason for participation
(economic, food preference, peer pressure, religious dietary restrictions), and the food choices
available for the student. All these factors influence the food selections made by the child or
adolescent, and ultimately the nutritional quality of his or her diet.
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