Erin Roche

Social Cognitive Theory as a Framework for Considering Farm to School Programming

BACKGROUND Farm to School (FTS) programs are designed, in part, to improve childhood health and nutrition and may be implemented as a strategy to prevent childhood obesity. FTS programs have largely emerged out of grassroots efforts, and theory has not explicitly guided program development or implementation. This research considers the effectiveness of social cognitive theory (SCT) as a framework for FTS programming. METHODS In 2010, a survey was administered to 632 elementary schoolchildren in Vermont. Six indices were developed from 46 variables that measured personal characteristics and experiences with regard to fruits and vegetables, as described in the SCT. RESULTS These indices were the basis for cluster analysis, which identified three distinct clusters. Bivariate analysis showed significant differences among the clusters in the children’s likelihood of meeting the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). The significant differences observed among the clusters suggest that SCT is an appropriate framework within which FTS interventions may be considered. CONCLUSIONS The findings show that there are distinct food-related attitudes and behaviors that differ widely by the SCT informed clusters and that can be used to inform FTS programs.

Childhood Obesity, Food Choice and Market Influence

Publisher Summary Obesity is a growing problem in children of all ages. It is clear that children are not meeting the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommendations for several food categories and, in general, consume too many added sugars and solid fats. The solution to the obesity epidemic is not as easy as giving advice to “change what you eat,” however. A large number of variables are at work that contribute to keeping the energy balance equation out of balance. At the organizational level, the food industry has used techniques including sponsored communication, value menus with distorted portion sizes, and large promotional budgets to move childrens food choice preferences toward higher-calorie, less nutrient rich options. Families are increasingly faced with pressures of both time and money and are also swayed into purchasing convenience foods and restaurant meals as a way to be more efficient in their meal preparation. The federal government and public service spending to promote DGA guidelines and healthier choices is dwarfed by the resources of the private sector used to persuade children and the “food gatekeepers” in their households to spend on other types of foods.

Sampling tomorrow's lunch today: Examining the effect of sampling a vegetable-focused entrée on school lunch participation, a pilot study

School lunch programs are important pillars in the food system, as they impact childrens health, local agriculture, and community food security. When offering a new lunch entrée that contains vegetables, schools must consider whether students will choose the new entrée to avoid low participation rates and decreased revenue. Previous research in marketing suggests that sampling (i.e. taste testing) can positively impact consumer choice. In terms of encouraging students to eat school lunch and particularly items that include vegetables, it is often assumed that sampling will help direct food choice to healthier items, but little research has investigated the impact of sampling on food choice in a school lunch environment. The objective of this research was to investigate in a pilot study whether providing samples of a vegetable-focused lunch entrée the day before it appeared on the school lunch menu increased National School Lunch Program (NSLP) participation. The study took place at a Vermont middle school in 2015. Four new vegetable-focused entrées were supplied over three consecutive months. During month two, the entrées were sampled at a middle school the day before they were offered for sale, and NSLP participation, as well as revenue was tracked over three months. Our results suggest that sampling may have a positive impact on NSLP participation rates and food service revenue, but that more research is needed to better assess how sampling can be utilized in the most efficacious way to promote NSLP participation and healthy eating patterns.