Students' Willingness to Purchase Vegan Menu Items in the National School Lunch Program

by Jill Eckart, BA, Kathryn A. Strong, MS, RD, Darlene K. Moppert, MS, RD, Neal D. Barnard, MD

From the Florida Public Health Review, 2010; 7, 64-69.
The significance of the study in determining if offering plant-based options as part of a comprehensive school wellness policy may encourage healthful eating patterns, and can complement the benefits of nutrition education and physical activity. Whereas more research is needed to assess the long-term effects of offering plant-based options in schools, providing these items appears to be feasible and beneficial in the short term.

Abstract
Offering plant-based options in school lunches may help schools meet U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrient standards by providing students with options that are low in fat and cholesterol-free. Research indicates that well planned vegetarian and vegan diets are appropriate for all ages and have certain health benefits; however, it is not clear whether students are willing to incorporate vegetarian foods into their diets. We assessed students’ willingness to purchase vegan menu items in school lunches and evaluate the nutrient profiles of vegan and nonvegan menu items offered. Vegan items were offered once per week for four weeks in elementary and middle school cafeterias located in a demographically diverse school district. Researchers tracked menu items sold, nutrients of menu items offered, and ease of vegan item preparation. Vegan options accounted for more than half of the average number of meals sold at each school on study days. Vegan menu items were lower in total fat, saturated fat, and energy and provided more dietary fiber compared with the competing foods. Food service managers indicated that vegan menu items were easy to prepare. Students are willing to purchase vegan options offered in the school lunch line. Offering vegan school lunches on a regular basis may help food service directors meet nutrient standards and improve child nutrition.

To view the full study click the following link: Vegan Menu Items in the National School Lunch Program.

Registered Dietitian & Nutrition Expert Katherine Brooking, MS, MA, RD

Website and Blog. http://www.eatlikeanrd.com/

Website. Katherine Brooking, MS, MA, RD
Facebook. Appetite for Health

Twitter. @eatlikeard

LinkedIn. Katherine Brooking, MS, MA, RD

“The New American Plate is a helpful method for creating nutritious meals that promote a healthy weight, decrease cancer risk and support overall health. Each time you eat, make plant foods (vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans) at least two-thirds of your plate, and animal protein (poultry, seafood and red meat) no more than one-third.”

Katherine Brooking, RD provides advice, tips and
recipes for parents packing kids' lunches.


 

Katherine Brooking is a Registered Dietitian with a Master’s Degree in Nutrition Education from Columbia University. She is dedicated to helping people achieve better health and richer lives through sound nutrition and healthy lifestyles.

She is a frequent nutrition contributor to national morning shows including the TODAY show, Live with Regis & Kelly, The Early Show on CBS, Good Morning America Health as well as on local affiliate stations across the country.

Katherine co-hosts The Victory Project, an original web series from the creators of Project Runway, in partnership with MSN. The Victory Project helps women across America look and feel their best through better nutrition, fitness and beauty care.

Katherine also co-hosts and co-produces a weekly nutrition and fitness segment series, Appetite for Health, on The Daily Buzz, a nationally syndicated news program.

As a writer covering health and wellness topics, Katherine has contributed to SELF Magazine, Prevention, Cooking Light and Woman’s Day and other leading news publications including The Washington Post and New York Daily News.

In 2009, Katherine co-founded Smart Cookie Productions, LLC, a media communications company providing health-related content for broadcast, web and print. Smart Cookie publishes http://www.eatlikeanrd.com/ and produces and syndicates the Appetite for Health series.

Prior to her work in media, Katherine had a private nutrition practice in Manhattan and was the Registered Dietitian for the health service at Columbia University Medical School. She received her Master’s Degree in Nutrition Science from Columbia University and her clinical nutrition training at Bellevue Hospital in New York City and Greenwich Hospital in Greenwich, CT.

Professional Affiliations:

• American Dietetic Association:

• Dietitians in Business and Communications

• The Greater New York Dietetic Association (GNYDA)

• Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutritionists

• Nutrition Entrepreneurs

September 2010 Wellness News

Wellness News is your resource for current Health, Nutrition and Food topics and events. Subjects encourage awareness and inspire ideas for Journalists, Educators, Consumers and Health Professionals. 
 

September Monthly Events
Weekly and Daily Events can be found in the Wellness Newsletter.

America on the Move – Month of Action

California Wild Rice Month
Fruit and Veggie Month

Mold Awareness Month
National Apple Month (Sept – Nov)
Hunger Action Month

National Biscuit Month

National Chicken Month

Cholesterol Education Awareness
National Coupon Month
National Food Safety Education Month

National Honey Month
National Mushroom Month
National Organic Harvest Month

Whole Grains Month
Sports and Home Eye Health and Safety Month
Women's Friendship Month

National Papaya Month

National Potato Month

National Preparedness Month

National Rice Month

National Yoga Awareness Month

AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Month

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Month

Baby Safety Awareness Month

Backpack Safety America Month

Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month

College Savings Month

Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month

National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

International Update Your Resume Month

Library Card Signup Month

Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month

Million Minute Family Challenge

Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month

Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month

National Childhood Injury Prevention Month

National Head Lice Prevention Month

Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15- Oct 15)

National Menopause Awareness Month
National Osteopathic Medicine Month

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

National Sickle Cell Month

 Reunion Planning Month

Read It Before You Eat It: How to Decode Food Labels and Make the Healthiest Choice Every Time

New Book Release

Author: Taub-Dix, Bonnie. MA, RD, CDN

Title: Read It Before You Eat It: How to Decode Food Labels and Make the Healthiest Choice Every Time

Summary: "There is a wealth of information on food labels, but most people have no idea that products labeled “trans fat free” can contain trans fats or that “all natural” is essentially a misleading phrase."

Read It Before You Eat It (Plume 2010) will clear up the confusion by showing you how to make sense of the labels and sidestep tricky marketing ploys. Bonnie walks you through a typical grocery store and points out the best food choices to make in every aisle.

Read It Before You Eat It will help you find
the answers to these questions and so much more…

  Which foods help and which harm?
  Can you trust the labels on your food?
  What do all the numbers on the Nutrition Facts Panel mean?
  How can you get the most out of your money when buying food for your family?
  How can you shop smart, shop fast, and shop with confidence?


You won’t want to leave home without it.

Registered Dietititian and Nutrition Expert Kati Mora, MS, RD

Website. Mora Nutrition

Twitter. Around the Plate

Facebook. Around the Plate

Blog. Around the Plate

LinkedIn. Kati Mora

Founder, Kati Mora is the Chief Blogger of Around the Plate. She also works as a nutrition consultant for the Central Michigan District Health department and writes nutrition content for multiple media outlets. Some of her latest work can be found on ehow.com and answerbag.com.

Mora Nutrition provides realistic and accurate nutrition information with its "Around the Plate" services. These include a nutrition-focused blog and a new text messaging service that provides daily nutrition tips to individuals on the go. Kati also offers educational services for groups as well as individuals.

Mora Nutrition currently offers two primary services to help individuals meet their nutrition goals. These include group presentations and and the development of educational material. Both serve as great tools to inform and educate people on a variety of nutrition topics.

 

Kati also offers a text messaging service, Around the Plate To Go. It brings daily nutrition tips directly to your mobile device.

Back to School Nutrition A Collection of Articles, Blogs and Videos

School nutrition: Healthier ingredients, more education for 2010-11. Among the new menu items schools are serving up for 2010-11: jicama, star fruit, sweet potato puffs, collard greens, edamame, egg-white omelets, and fish tacos. A new website from the SNA, www.TrayTalk.org, educates parents about healthy school meals and highlights innovative approaches around the country.

Let’s eat healthier, and get ready
When it comes to getting the day off to a good start, research shows that most youngsters aren’t eating a good breakfast before they head out the door. A new study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association reports that 20 percent of children and 32 percent of teens skip what’s known as the most important meal of the day.

Experts: Get kids involved in lunch-making process. With creative menu ideas, parents can pack healthy school lunches that their kids will actually eat. ``People eat with their eyes. Children get bored, just like adults get bored,'' said Donna Kinney, a registered and licensed dietitian/nutritionist with Gordon Food Service, which helps South Florida schools develop healthier menus. ``We don't want to eat the same things every day and neither do they.''

Back to School - Eating Healthy
Florida Hospital Dietitian, Tamara Dorway, talks about getting your kids ready for school with healthy breakfast and lunch ideas.

Little Kids, Big Appetites
Can little kids be food addicts or binge eaters? Take a look at the behavioral factors of children's eating habits and how parents can influence healthier eating in their families.

Child Nutrition - Lunch Line Choices PSA
As an adult you are a role model for the children around you. Kids follow the lead of the adults they see everyday. So remember, healthy choices start with you.

School lunches: the allergy debate
Food allergies and intolerances run the gamut and lunchtime at school can be tough to swallow for kids with special dietary needs.

Remember 'food groups' when packing school lunch
Packing a school lunch might seem like a daunting task to some. But, Miami-based dietitian Claudia Gonzalez, author of “Gordito Doesn't Mean Healthy,” says eating nutritious meals is easier than you think.

10 Easy Breakfast Recipes for Kids
Feed your children and get them out the door in a flash with these kid-friendly breakfasts that take 20 minutes or less.

Priceless: School Lunch
"Priceless" launched the One Tray campaign depicting the cafeteria tray as the conduit for a reformed school food system that supports healthy children, local farms, and smart schools.

Lunch Encounters of the Third Kind
Every child deserves the opportunity to eat food in school that ensures their health and well-being and Farm to School programs are one solution to incorporating healthier foods into school meals.

Sarah Hortman, RD is a feature writer for the Omaha Examiner. She has written a series of article to help parents and children get ready for the new school year.

  Top 8 kid friendly cereals. The top 8 kid friendly healthy cereals are based on a one serving size portion that contains 6g or less of sugar, 3g or more fiber, 100% whole grain as the first listed ingredient, no artificial colors & preservatives and are fortified with iron.

  Back to School Nutrition Part 1: Breakfast.  When it comes to children, a well nourished child who consumes a healthy breakfast is ready to learn as they have more energy, stamina, self-esteem, especially if they are physically active on a daily basis.

  Back to School Nutrition Part 2: Brown Bag Lunch Basics. A successful brown bag lunch will include a variety of a child’s favorite choices of whole grains, proteins, fresh fruits or vegetables and a beverage, ideally milk or water. To increase appeal there should be a variety of colors, textures and flavors. Make foods fun such as creating small kabobs from fruit, meat and cheese.

  Back to School Nutrition Part 3: Top 10 Strategies for Healthy Kid Friendly Brown Bag Lunches.  Plan the upcoming week of lunches together. Consider their likes and dislikes by having them write a list of foods for the month that they would like in their lunches and foods

  Back to School Nutrition Part 4: School Lunch Legislation. We have all been hearing the buzz around childhood obesity and the connection with a need for healthier school lunches. According to the CDC, childhood obesity rates in children aged 6-11 have increased from approximately 6% in 1980 to approximately

  Back to School Nutrition Part 5: School Lunch Strategies. While our schools begin to plan for implementing healthier food choices due to the new Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, the following are additional guidelines for us to help score school lunches.


Resources
The School Breakfast Program (SBP) provides cash assistance to States to operate nonprofit breakfast programs in schools and residential childcare institutions. The program is administered at the Federal level by FNS. State education agencies administer the SBP at the State level, and local school food authorities operate it in schools.

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946.

Eat Smart. Play Hard.™ The Eat Smart. Play Hard.™ Campaign was launched by USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to encourage and teach children, parents, and caregivers to eat healthy and be physically active every day. Eat Smart. Play Hard.™ offers resources and tools to convey and reinforce healthy eating and lifestyle behaviors that are consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the MyPyramid Food Guidance System. Eat Smart. Play Hard.™ is about making America's children healthier. It's about practical suggestions that will help you motivate children and their caregivers to eat healthy and be active. Eat Smart. Play Hard.™ Campaign messages and materials are fun for children and informative for caregivers.

Team Nutrition is an initiative of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to support the Child Nutrition Programs through training and technical assistance for foodservice, nutrition education for children and their caregivers, and school and community support for healthy eating and physical activity.

Recipes for Healthy Kids. The USDA is creating a nationwide challenge which will bring together teams of school nutrition professionals, chefs and students to develop nutritious, delicious, and kid-approved recipes for use in schools. Your school could have an award-winning recipe and a chance to compete in the national cook-off.

Accredited Practising Dietitian Tara Diversi, B.HSc, MS, APD

 Website. taradiversi.com

Website. Health Management Dietetics

Website. Communication for Change

Twitter. @TaraDiversi

LinkedIn. Tara Diversi

Tara Diversi is an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD). She holds a Bachelor of Health Science, Masters of Nutrition and Dietetics, Graduate Diploma of Psychology and Masters of Business Administration majoring in Marketing.

Tara has worked in private practice, public health dietetics, community dietetics and foodservice. She currently lecturers at the University of Sydney, Australia in the Human Nutrition Unit.

Tara is the founding director of Health Management. She promotes positive ‘can do’ attitude and innovation in practice amongst the Health Management team, encouraging them to aim to be the best they can be. She enjoys training, mentoring and supporting health professionals to reach their goals and achieve positive health outcomes.

She is passionate about communication within the health industry and is involved in a range of writing, consulting and speaking work.

Food Personality
Australian Dietitian Tara Diversi talks about what your eating type is.

Tara enjoys all aspects of nutrition but is particularly interested in how food is used to fulfil needs other than nutrition and therefore causes over eating and under eating disorders. She works with eating disorders, weight loss and with women with PCOS and other fertility problems.

Areas of interest
- Corporate Health/Nutrition
- Nutrition in Food Service
- Sports Nutrition
- Aged care nutrition
- School Nutrition
- Nutrition in heat (sports, outdoor, elderly, worksites)

Tara is the convenor of DAA's (Dietitians Association of Australia) Dietitians in the Private Sector Interest Group. Tara has worked with a range of media since becoming a spokesperson in 2005. She was recently awarded with a 'North Queensland Telstra Country Wide Media Award' for Best Editorial for her work on The Cairns Post ‘Lose 2 Win’ campaign. Tara writes a regular column for Hospital and Healthcare magazine.

The Registered Dietitian Maya E. Nahra, RD, LD

Holistic Nutrition. "We take the time to learn our client’s lifestyles, belief systems and daily thoughts and feelings as we believe these all have significant impact on the body's behaviors, digestive patterns and current body habits. We bring together the emotional, psychological and physical aspects to treat the person as a whole."

   -Maya E. Nahra, RD, LD

Website. Pure Nutrition

Blog. As the RD

Blog. Happy Belly Food

Twitter. @MayaTheRD

Facebook. Ask Maya

LinkedIn. Maya E. Nahra

Maya is a registered, licensed dietitian, freelance writer, certified Synergia practitioner, and holistic life coach who has found her passion and calling in life. She has helped changed the lives of clients for over 5 years. With a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from St. Louis University in Missouri, Maya is guided by her deep passion for holistic health stemming from her own life lessons.

She is an active member of the American Dietetic Association and Arizona Dietetic Association. Additionally, Maya is the corporate dietitian for Sunflower Farmers Market, a natural and organic grocer in the southwest, where her main goal is to educate the consumer. She also does smaller healthy catering events, nutrition education for small or large groups, and corporate health and wellness programs.

Maya is interviewed on 
Foods to fight diabetes

The Registered Dietitian Janel Ovrut, MS, RD, LDN

Website. Eat Well with Janel 
Blog: Eat Well with Janel
Blog. Food Network, Healthy Eats with Janel Ovrut

Facebook. Eat Well with Janel

LinkedIn. Janel Ovrut, MS RD
Twitter. @DietitianJanel

"If you find your fridge packed with produce that you know you won’t be able to eat fast enough, don’t bring it to the trash. Instead, add fresh vegetables to a big batch of soup or tomato sauce, bake a fruit-filled pie, or simply steam your vegetables, let them cool, and keep them in the freezer for another day."     - Janel Ovrut, MS, RD, LDN

 Healthy Breakfast Recipes on the Go

 Janel is interviewed by Sarah Dussault of Diet.com Video

Janel Ovrut is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree from the Nutrition Communication program at Tufts University in Boston, and a bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from Syracuse University. She currently works in corporate wellness where Janel develops wellness programs for large companies, provides nutrition counseling for employees, and gives nutrition presentations relevant to a working professional’s busy life. In addition, Janel offers personal and practical nutrition advice for individuals and families.

Janel’s nutrition experiences include maternal and family nutrition, weight loss, meal planning and preparation, food allergies and vegetarian/vegan nutrition. She is a member of the Massachusetts Dietetic Association and has served on the board as the State Professional Recruitment Coordinator and Membership Chair. She is also a member of the American Dietetic Association’s Member Value Committee.

Janel has spoken at events such as the Healthy Living Summit, FitBloggin’ and the POM Wonderful Blogger Harvest Tour. She writes articles about healthy eating and the benefits of pomegranates for http://www.pomwonderful.com/, contributes to the http://www.healthyeats.com/ blog with The Veggie Table posts, and writes articles about family nutrition for http://www.superkidsnutrition.com/.

Janel also has her own food and nutrition blog called Eat Well With Janel. Janel explores her life through food and shares her culinary creations, recipes, food events, restaurant reviews and the races she competes in, which include half marathons and a triathlon.

Janel is passionate about good food “I love eating, cooking, grocery shopping, creating recipes, and trying new things!” She enjoys helping others realize simple steps to take to improve eating habits. For these reasons, her goal as a Registered Dietitian is to help others understand the importance of eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle.

Services

Nutrition Counseling

Nutrition Seminars and Lectures

Grocery Store Tours

Health Fairs and Visibility Tables

Nutrition Expert Writer and Blogger

Writer of Education Materials

Teleseminars

Affiliations and Memberships

ServSafe Certified

American Dietetic Association
  Chair, Member Value Sub-Committee

Massachusetts Dietetic Association

  Current Membership Chair

  Former State Professional Recruitment Coordinator

Dietitians in Business and Communications Dietetic Practice Group

Food and Culinary Professionals Dietetic Practice Group

Nutrition Entrepreneurs Dietetic Practice Group

Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group

The Registered Dietitian Robin Plotkin, RD, LD

Website. Robin Plotkin, RD, LD

Blog. Robinsbite

Facebook. Robinsbite

Twitter. @Robinsbite

LinkedIn. Robin Plotkin

After successful tenures at both the North Texas Food Bank and HEB/Central Market, Robin launched her culinary and nutrition communications consulting business in 2003. Her unique niche of combining food and nutrition expertise with sales, marketing and public relations experiences have landed her a diverse client base including: Glaceau, Sara Lee, Quaker Oats, Pop Chips, Bausch and Lomb, Tenet Healthcare Corporation, Fisher Pay Kel and the American Institute of Wine and Food.

Robin Plotkin, RD, LD shares popchips as a better-for-you party treat or snack.

Professional Awards & Honors
•Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year Award Winner (Texas Dietetic Association)
•2006-07 Outstanding Media Award Winner (Dallas Dietetic Association)

Professional Leadership
•Chair - Nutrition Entrepreneurs Practice Group of the American Dietetic Association
•Co-Chairman for the 2008 Texas Dietetic Association Annual Food and Nutrition Conference
•Advisory Committee Member for the Art Institute of Dallas' Culinary Arts Program
•Former President of the Dallas Dietetic Association

Services
Culinary and Nutrition Communicator
Robin is an expert at translating the often times confusing nutrition message into realistic, fun and understandable terms for her audiences. Robin's high energy and enthusiasm is contagious and as a result, she is routinely asked back for additional speaking engagements! Audiences of 5-5000 will relate to her humorous, hands on approach to every day living, eating well and staying healthy.

Media and Product Spokesperson
Credible, flexible, timely and well spoken, Robin is often called upon by the media for her innovative and unbiased expertise about cooking, nutrition, food and wellness. Her successful approach encompasses real world experiences and her relatability to the every day consumer as well as the nutrition and culinary professional. She is also a brand and product ambassador at tradeshows, exhibits, cooking classes and industry events.

Marketing and Public Relations Strategist
As a specialist in consumer behaviors & trends in the nutrition and food industries, Robin positions her clients with her unique marketing expertise to result in increased visibility in the marketplace and higher sales. Her motto is "Let's get it done".

Event Producer and Manager
Robin's proven track record of successful turnkey events has created a buzz in the Food and Wine, Health and Fitness and Culinary Arts industries. She is routinely called upon or her expertise and knowledge for both small and large scale events. Overall conception, financial development, volunteer and staff management, vendor relations, media, and detailing the nuts and bolts of an event are her specialties.

Robin frequently mentors students and young dietitians as they carve their niche in the nutrition and food world by encouraging them to look over, under and around the box and not just outside of it. You'll also find her frequently quoted in the media as well as stirring things up in the kitchen and classroom as she teaches creative ways to balance eating and living well to students of all ages.

She spends her free time cooking and volunteering for such causes as the North Texas Food Bank and Lone Star Lab Rescue. Robin resides in Dallas, Texas with her husband and 2 rescue dogs, Bo and Charlie.