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, More

School Food Environments and Policies in U.S. Public Schools

Based on 2005 data, this study found that 97% of high schools and 82% of middle schools had vending machines, compared with 17% of elementary schools. In addition, 93% of high schools and 92% of middle schools sold food and beverages a la carte, and nearly 80% of these schools offered unhealthy a la carte More

Disparities in the Food Environment Surrounding U.S. Middle and High Schools

Easy availability of snacks, sodas, alcohol, and fast food in the immediate vicinity of a school could easily negate school food policies. Surrounding food outlets could also lower the effectiveness of health education in the classroom by setting a highly visible example that counters educational messages. The most pernicious one is arguably the location of More

Mapping School Food: A Policy Guide

School food environments are complex, particularly because they must function within a plethora of state, federal and local regulations. Individuals who work in this system-food service directors, superintendents, or others involved school food policy-are often left to their own devices to navigate the complex interplay of laws. In this study, legal researchers guide advocates in More

Analyzing Legal Factors Influencing the Food Environment in Extracurricular and Other School-Related Settings Outside School Administration Control

Extracurricular school settings are an essential part of the school food environment but are often outside direct school regulation or are poorly enforced. Using legal analyses, this project will produce three issues briefs on (i) school stores, events, and concessions; (ii) fundraising; and (iii) open campus policies. These briefs will provide an overview of each More

Developing a Computer Model of School Food Policies That Will Simulate Their Effects on Youth Overweight and Obesity Rates

The key objective of this project is to develop a computer simulation model of school food policies that will simulate their effects on youth overweight and obesity rates. This computer model also will provide a user-friendly synthesis of current research, which will provide an accessible means by which practitioners, schools, and other stakeholders might develop More

Assessing the Impact of School Vending Machine Policies on Rural Adolescent Beverage Consumption

The goal of this study is to analyze the impact of school vending machine policies on adolescent beverage consumption in predominantly rural high schools across New Hampshire and Vermont. Using data from an ongoing study, this project will specifically seek to compare school beverage vending machine guidelines, restrictions, implementation, and content; and to evaluate the More

Studying Spatial Associations Between the Density of Schools and the Density of Fast Food Outlets

The overall objectives of this project are to study inequality in New York City’s food environment, and more specifically, the distribution of fast food restaurants. Specifically, this project will study spatial associations between school density and fast food density, investigate environmental determinants of fast food density, and explore the circumstances in which fast food restaurateurs More