Oral

As of 2006-07, school districts nationwide are required to adopt nutrition standards for food and beverages sold outside of the federal meal programs as part of the congressional-mandate school district wellness policy requirement. Competitive foods can have significant negative impacts on participation in the National School Lunch Program. Also, compelling research has demonstrated that competitive foods can have negative fiscal impacts on school food programs. The first presentation discusses implications of recently revised National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program nutrition standards on student meal program participation rates. In the second presentation, speakers will highlight themes from case studies that provide evidence and best practices for policy makers on how competitive food policies can support obesity- reduction objectives while maintaining district/school revenue needs. The third presentation provides the first nationwide evaluation of how wellness policies have improved competitive beverage environments. In the last presentation, speakers will explain new methods and metrics to evaluate changes in school food programs.

Session Objectives: 1. Discuss the impact of the congressionally mandated wellness policies on selected competitive food programs; and 2. Identify and evaluate key determinants of school nutrition program success that should be considered in policy development and program evaluation.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)