The purpose of this project is to conduct an exploratory, pilot study with three schools to determine how school cafeteria renovations that create choice-based serving lines, a variety of inviting and comfortable seating options, and nutrition education messaging may impact school lunch consumption, seated time, attitudes, and school lunch participation rates. To measure the potential effects of STARCafé on students’ intake, school lunch consumption will be measured using before and after meal digital photography at two months and one academic year post-renovation. Seated time will be measured using the time stamp on before and after meal photos. Healthy eating attitudes of students toward school lunch will be measured using a brief 36-item survey. School lunch participation rates will be assessed using transaction-level point-of-service data. Noise level will be measured using noise measure procedures from prior studies. The research team will assess the fidelity of the STARCafé renovations to the Healthy Eating Design Guidelines at two months and one academic year post-renovation. Finally, the research team will assess the adoption of new healthy food-related policies and programs in the three schools.
Start Date: May 2017
ID #: CAS042
Organization: Teacher's College, Columbia University
Project Lead: Pamela Koch, EdD, RD
Age Groups: Adolescents (grades 9 to 12), Elementary-age children (grades K to 5), Young adolescents (grades 6 to 8)
Resource Type: Commissioned Research Project Summary
Keywords: Food service, Point-of-decision prompts, School meal programs
State: New York
Focus Area: School & After School
Related Research
March 2023
Reducing Student Exposure to Digital Food and Beverage Marketing: Policy and Practice Recommendations
Digital marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children and adolescents is pervasive, highly effective, undermines healthy eating, and contributes to health inequities. Expanded use of electronic devices and remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the urgency for policy interventions to limit digital food marketing in schools and on school-issued devices. The US MoreFebruary 2023
Rapid Health Impact Assessment on Changes to School Nutrition Standards to Align with 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
The national school breakfast and lunch programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are cornerstone federal nutrition assistance programs. School meals are one of the healthiest sources of foods for school-age children, which is significant as some children receive up to half of their daily calories at school. Policy opportunities in 2023 MoreNovember 2022