The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Good Food for Oxford Schools (GFOS) program by assessing perceptions of Child Nutrition Program (CNP) staff. This evaluation was completed to provide insights to support continued quality improvement of the program, and to explore the potential impact of the program on the students and teachers in the…

The FNS Research Corner provides a continuing series to summarize recently completed and current research conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in the area of child nutrition. Summaries of recently completed research projects, research conducted through grant activities, and in-progress research are…

Developing healthy eating habits in childhood may support future healthy food choices. With most children spending some time outside of the home, child care facilities have the opportunity to positively influence children's eating habits. The purpose of this paper is to review recent research regarding foods served in child care settings and…

Purpose/Objectives: This paper describes the results from a Smarter Lunchroom program designed to evaluate if bundling fruit or vegetable strategies listed on the Smarter Lunchroom Scorecard increased selection of fruits and vegetables by students in school cafeterias from 2015 to 2017. Methods: Twenty-one Michigan State University (MSU) Extension…

Purpose/Objectives: Children with developmental disorders may require texture-modified diets. The purpose of this study was to determine if materials developed by the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI) are feasible for use by child nutrition personnel. Methods: Researchers created training materials based on IDDSI…

Over 50 million Americans have a food allergy to one or more foods (Berdanier, 2017). Approximately 1 in 25 school-aged children are diagnosed with food allergies (Sicherer, Mahr, & The Section on Allergy and Immunology, 2010), while 25% of children may not experience a reaction until later in life (Leo & Clark, 2017). A food sensitivity…

Purpose/Objectives: School lunch meals often provide students with the majority of daily calories and prime opportunities to develop healthful eating habits. Plant-based entrées may increase variety of foods served and appeal to students, but may not appear frequently on school menus. A Washington, D.C.-based school partnered with local…

The Applied Research Division (ARD) of the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) is located on the campus of The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Funding for the Institute is provided from the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (USDA, FNS), through the University of Mississippi. ARD's…

This article is a compilation of Child Nutrition Showcase research poster abstracts. Abstracts for the following papers are included: (1) Key Performance Indicators for Use as Benchmarking Tools for School Nutrition Programs (Penny Howard and Alicia Landry); (2) Professional Standards and District Directors' Qualifications (Caitlin Merlo); (3)…

Purpose: The USDA requires children with food allergies be offered modified menus with no additional meal reimbursement. Food allergies affect up to 8% of children in the U.S.; eight allergens account for over 90% of allergic reactions. This study assessed perceptions of child nutrition program menu planners in California, a state with a high and…

Purpose/Objectives: This study explored food traceability systems in school foodservice in the United States and the potential benefits and challenges to their implementation. Methods: An online questionnaire was developed and used to collect data. A mixed-mode approach was followed to recruit the participants. A convenience sample of 500 school…

The Department of Defense is the only government entity serving more meals daily than New York City public schools, which operates a meal program with a rich history of both progress and regress. This story of New York City school meals is one that shows both local action and inputs of the federal government. A landmark policy change in 2017…

Purpose/Objectives: Early childhood educators (ECEs) are encouraged to utilize supportive feeding practices (SFPs) to promote children's healthy eating. SFPs include sitting with children during mealtimes, role modeling healthy eating behaviors, encouraging children to try new foods, and addressing children's hunger cues. Although Head Start…

Objectives: To pilot whether a sensory-based food education program, "Rainbow Food Heroes," increases children's intended and actual fruit and vegetable consumption. Methods: The behavioral intervention, Rainbow Food Heroes, a sensory-based food education program, consisted of two 90-minute workshops delivered in one week, followed by a…

Purpose/Objectives: Farm to school (FTS) programs have many benefits, including potential for increased consumption of fruits and vegetables by students. However, there are challenges with hourly school nutrition employees' abilities to successfully process local produce and promote it to students. The purpose of this study was to identify…