Published: June 2011

ID #: 65072

Journal: J Am Diet Assoc

Authors: Nollen NL, Kimminau KS, Nazir N

See more related research

Share


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.

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, More

May 2026

Beyond Added Sugar Reduction: A Narrative Review of Policies to Address Nonsugar Sweeteners

This perspective provides policymakers, advocates and researchers with a description of proposed and enacted policies that assist consumers in identifying products with nonsugar sweeteners (NSS) and/or reduce NSS exposure. Consumption of NSS is associated with multiple chronic diseases. NSS exposure is increasing as food and beverage manufacturers replace added sugars with NSS. This narrative review More

April 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 More