Health Perceptions And Stigma Keep Kids From Eating School Meals

During nan Covid-19 pandemic, nan national authorities enabled schools to supply each children, sloppy of need, pinch free meals to reside nutrition and nutrient insecurity. While programme information increased, galore students declined nan free meals, missing retired connected imaginable wellness and world benefits.

A caller study by nutrition researchers identifies respective barriers cited by foodservice directors-the leaders who tally schoolhouse nutrient programs-to student participation, including student preferences for home-cooked meals aliases accelerated food, and concerns astir really patient nan meals are.

Even erstwhile schoolhouse meals are free, students don't ever return and eat them. This tells america that costs isn't nan only barrier. From nan position of schoolhouse foodservice directors, who are cardinal stakeholders successful providing schoolhouse meals to children, it's important to understand what different barriers exist, truthful schoolhouse meals tin beryllium much accessible, appealing, and supportive of student well-being."

Deborah Olarte, study's lead writer and adjunct professor of nutrition astatine NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development

The researchers utilized antecedently collected 2021-2022 study information from 599 foodservice board successful California and Maine by nan California Department of Education and nan Maine nonprofit, Full Plates, Full Potential, respectively. They past conducted follow-up interviews pinch a subset of 49 study participants.

Using information from some nan surveys and interviews, nan researchers recovered 3 statistically important barriers to students eating schoolhouse meals: 1) students aliases parents don't deliberation nan nutrient is healthy, 2) they for illustration to eat astatine location aliases elsewhere (e.g., fast-food restaurants), and 3) students and parents deliberation that only lower-income students eat schoolhouse meal and don't want nan associated stigma.

"As states see cosmopolitan free schoolhouse repast policies, nan adjacent measurement is making nan already patient meals much appealing and accessible to students. This could beryllium investing successful scratch cooking, incorporating student feedback, and extending luncheon periods to guarantee meals are disposable without logistical barriers aliases stigma," says Olarte

Their findings are published in Journal of School Health.

This study was funded by California General Fund SB 170 and Share Our Strength.