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ERIC Number: EJ1194688
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1559-5676
EISSN: N/A
Time to Eat School Lunch Affects Elementary Students' Nutrient Consumption
Hildebrand, Deana; Millburg Ely, Catherine; Betts, Nancy M.; Gates, Gail E.
Journal of Child Nutrition & Management, v42 n2 Fall 2018
Purpose/Objectives: Advocacy groups recommend the school lunch period allow students 20 minutes of time to eat. While there is increasing evidence to support this recommendation, there is less known about the effect of eating time on nutrient consumption. The purpose of this study was to determine whether time to eat affected students' consumption of energy and select, under-consumed nutrients (i.e., vitamins A and C, fiber, and calcium) provided by the reimbursable school lunch. Methods: The study was conducted over a 3-day period with 2nd through 4th grade students in Spring 2013 at an elementary school located in a Southwestern state. For each grade the first and last ten students in each of 2 serving lines were recruited each day. Nutrient consumption of 306 meals was calculated by using a visual food consumption method and the school's nutrient data base information. Minutes of eating time were calculated by subtracting the time stamp on pre-meal time photographs from each classes' lunch dismissal time. Independent sample t-tests compared 1) time to eat between the first and last groups and 2) students' nutrient consumption between groups and with NLSP nutrient standards for calories and select nutrients. A univariate analysis was used to compare mean eating times across the 3-day trail. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The 25-minute lunch period did not provide students 20 minutes to eat lunch. The students entering the meal line first had significantly more time to eat (mean = 17.8 minutes, SD = 1.8) compared to students who entered the meal line (mean = 12.4 minutes, SD = 1.8, p =0.001). While students who had more time to eat consumed more Vitamin C and fiber compared to students who had less eating time, neither group met fiber or total energy standards. Applications To Child Nutrition Professionals: The findings can inform decisions regarding lunch duration to promote consumption of nutrients provided by the school lunch. Implementation can begin with inclusion in state and local level school wellness policies.
School Nutrition Association. 120 Waterfront Street Suite 300, National Harbor, MD 20745. Tel: 301-686-3100; Fax: 301-686-3115; e-mail: servicecenter@schoolnutrition.org; Web site: http://schoolnutrition.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A