Differences in Diet Quality between School Lunch Participants and Nonparticipants in the United States by Income and Race
Prior research has shown that participation in the United States’ National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is associated with consuming higher-quality lunches and diets overall, but little is known about differences by income and race/ethnicity. This analysis used 24 h dietary recall data from the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study to examine how NSLP participation affects the diet quality of students in different income and racial/ethnic subgroups. Diet quality at lunch and over 24 h was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2010, where higher scores indicate higher-quality intakes. HEI-2010 scores for NSLP participants and nonparticipants in each subgroup were estimated, and two-tailed t-tests were conducted to determine whether participant–nonparticipant differences in scores within each subgroup were statistically significant. NSLP participants’ lunches received significantly higher total HEI-2010 scores than those of nonparticipants for lower-income, higher-income, non-Hispanic White, and non-Hispanic Black students, suggesting that participating in the NSLP helps most students consume healthier lunches. These significantly higher total scores for participants’ lunch intakes persisted over 24 h for higher-income students and non-Hispanic White students but not for lower-income students or students of other races/ethnicities. For NSLP participants in all subgroups, the nutritional quality of their 24 h intakes was much lower than at lunch, suggesting that the positive influence of the NSLP on their overall diet quality was negatively influenced by foods consumed the rest of the day (outside of lunch).
"Utafiti wa awali umeonyesha kwamba ushiriki katika ""Mipango ya Chakula cha Mchana cha Shule ya Kitaifa"" (NSLP) inahusishwa na kula chakula cha mchana cha ubora wa juu na chakula cha jumla, lakini kidogo inajulikana kuhusu tofauti kwa mapato na jamii." Uchambuzi huu ulitumia data ya 24h ya kumbukumbu ya chakula kutoka kwa Utafiti wa Chakula cha Shule na Uchunguzi wa Gharama ya Chakula kuchunguza jinsi ushiriki wa NSLP unavyoathiri ubora wa chakula cha wanafunzi katika mapato tofauti na makundi madogo ya rangi na kikabila. Ubora wa chakula cha mchana na zaidi ya saa 24 ulikadiriwa kwa kutumia Kiashiria cha Chakula Chenye Afya (HEI) 2010, ambapo alama za juu zinaonyesha ulaji wa ubora wa juu. HEI scores kwa washiriki wa NSLP na wasio washiriki katika kila kundi ndogo zilipimwa, na t-test mbili-mwisho zilifanywa ili kuamua kama tofauti za mshiriki na wasio washiriki katika alama ndani ya kila kundi ndogo zilikuwa muhimu kwa takwimu. Washiriki wa NSLP walipata alama za juu zaidi za jumla za HEI-2010 kuliko wale wasio washiriki kwa wanafunzi wa mapato ya chini, mapato ya juu, Wazungu wasio wa Hispania, na wanafunzi weusi wasio wa Hispania, ikidokeza kwamba kushiriki katika NSLP husaidia wanafunzi wengi kula chakula cha mchana chenye afya. "Hizi alama za jumla za juu kwa washiriki wa chakula cha mchana ziliendelea zaidi ya masaa 24 kwa wanafunzi wa mapato ya juu na wanafunzi weupe wasio wa Hispania, lakini sio kwa wanafunzi wa mapato ya chini au wanafunzi wa jamii zingine. """ Kwa washiriki wa NSLP katika vikundi vyote, ubora wa lishe ya ulaji wao wa masaa 24 ulikuwa chini sana kuliko wakati wa chakula cha mchana, ikidokeza kuwa ushawishi mzuri wa NSLP juu ya ubora wa chakula chao cha jumla uliathiriwa vibaya na vyakula vilivyotumiwa siku nzima (nje ya chakula cha mchana).