This paper examines how Kansas school districts with low à la carte sales differ from districts with moderate to high à la carte sales on important demographic and financial characteristics. A la carte sales are foods and beverages sold outside the federal reimbursable school meals program. Researchers found that in rural districts with low à la carte sales, lunch prices and participation in the National School Lunch Program were higher, lunch costs and à la carte quality were lower, and fewer free/reduced price lunches were served compared to rural districts with high à la carte sales. No differences were found between urban/suburban districts with low and high à la carte sales. These results highlight the importance of lunch price and participation in the National School Lunch Program to maintaining low à la carte sales. Schools should consider raising lunch prices and increasing school meal participation rates as two potential strategies for reducing the sale of à la carte items without compromising foodservice revenue.
Age Groups: Adolescents (grades 9 to 12), Elementary-age children (grades K to 5), Young adolescents (grades 6 to 8)
Keywords: Competitive foods, Food service, Rural, School meal programs, Snacks, Urban
Resource Type: Journal Article
State: Kansas
Race/Ethnicity: Multi-racial/ethnic
Focus Areas: Pricing & Economics, School & After School
Related Research
September 2008
Examining the Financial Impact of a la Carte Foods in Kansas Public Schools
This project will characterize demographic and financial differences in the dependence on a la carte food sales among school food service programs. Specifically, the aims of this research are to: (a) classify and describe school districts according to their level of a la carte dependence, (b) explore key financial and demographic characteristics that distinguish low, MoreApril 2026
Policy Priorities and Research Needs for Advancing Healthy Eating: A 2026-2027 Research Agenda for U.S. Children and Adolescents
Given recent changes to nutrition policies and programs and the food environment landscape, the need for new evidence on how these changes impact nutrition, health, and food access is greater than ever. HER has also published a research agenda intended to provide a blueprint for immediate (i.e., 12-18 month) research needs to inform strategies to MoreDecember 2025