Evaluation of the Healthy School Meals Initiative in Texas Private Schools and Residential Child Care Institutions for Federal Fiscal Years 1997 and 1998.

N

107

Breakfast Programs; Dietetics; Elementary Secondary Education; Evaluation Methods; Lunch Programs; Nutrition; Private Schools; Program Evaluation; Questionnaires; Residential Institutions

In 1995 the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) developed the Health School Menus Initiative (HSMI) to ensure that school age children are provided meals that are consistent with dietary guidelines and current nutrition information. The USDA developed review instruments to evaluate the implementation of the HSMI nationwide. These instruments were used in Texas private schools and residential child care institutions (RCCIs). In 1997, 194 private schools and RCCIs were reviewed, and 28 were reviewed in 1998. The facilities reviewed in 1998 were selected based on their size and need for technical assistance. Most of the facilities had chosen the traditional menu planning option, with revised options much less often used. Neither the type of facility nor its location affected how successful a facility was in implementing the HSMI policy. Most facilities did not have the hardware and software necessary to conduct nutrient analyses on site. Overall, the menu planning in these schools indicates a need for standardization. There were significant improvements in facility nutritional performance in 1998, but technical assistance was still needed overall. Recommendations are made for menu planning and serving, improved nutrition analyses, and additional nutrition education and training. Two appendixes contain instruments used to evaluate the HSMI in 1997 and 1998. (Contains 8 tables and 17 figures.) (SLD)

2000

ED435745