Healthy School Meals for All in Utah

The National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs reduce food insecurity and improve dietary intake. During the COVID-19 pandemic, school meals were provided to all children at no cost, regardless of income. This policy is known as Healthy School Meals For All (HSMFA). The purpose of the study...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of school health 2024-05, Vol.94 (5), p.415-426
Main Authors: Spruance, Lori A, Guenther, Patricia M, Callaway, Sarah, Giles, Lahela, Varas, Sebasthian, Metos, Julie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Breakfast
Breakfast Programs
Child
Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Children
Childrens health
Cost estimates
COVID-19
Feasibility
Food security
Food service
Food Services
Healthy food
Humans
Insecurity
Meals
Nutrition
Pandemics
Policy making
Polls & surveys
Qualitative research
School lunches
School meals
Utah
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Summary:The National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs reduce food insecurity and improve dietary intake. During the COVID-19 pandemic, school meals were provided to all children at no cost, regardless of income. This policy is known as Healthy School Meals For All (HSMFA). The purpose of the study was to examine the feasibility of a HSMFA policy in Utah. A mixed-methods approach was used, including qualitative interviews for policymakers, surveys for school foodservice directors, and financial modeling of Utah Child Nutrition Programs data. Analysis included a phenomenological analytic approach for qualitative data, descriptive statistics for surveys, and development of a cost model with 6 scenarios. Qualitative data revealed themes of (1) awareness; (2) responsibility; (3) perspectives on school meals; and (4) new opportunities. Most (81%) foodservice directors believed HSMFA should continue post-pandemic. HSMFA would cost $51,341,436 to $82,358,375 per year. HSMFA would result in the equitable treatment of all children regarding access to healthy school meals. Given the support of foodservice directors but the lack of political consensus, considering stepwise implementation and providing cost estimates may increase feasibility of a HSMFA policy in Utah.
ISSN:0022-4391
1746-1561
DOI:10.1111/josh.13412