Building Relationships and Capacity in Rural Lunchrooms: Lessons from a Process Evaluation of a Pilot Behavioral Economics-Based Intervention

ABSTRACT

We aimed to describe the successes and challenges of implementing a pilot program by working with students and food service staff in four rural high schools to encourage healthy eating among rural adolescents. The pilot program engaged students and school food service directors (FSDs) in identifying and making changes to the school lunchroom environment based on behavioral economics. As part of a multi-method evaluation, we conducted interviews with FSDs and staff, held focus groups with students, and recorded our observations as researchers. The lessons learned highlighted the importance of (1) the FSD’s role in the school, (2) a faculty partner involved in the project, (3) the characteristics of the student group, and (4) setting realistic goals for the students. Our findings can guide future interventions designed to improve food choices in school lunchrooms and increase adolescents’ fruit and vegetable consumption.

KEYWORDS:

• Child nutrition
• school lunch
• fruits and vegetables
• behavioral economics

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the schools, food service directors, food service staff, and students who participated in the project.

Declarations of interest

None

Ethical standards disclosure

This study was conducted according to the guidelines laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki and all procedures involving human subjects/patients were approved by the University of Iowa Institutional Review Board. Verbal informed consent was obtained from all adult participants and verbal assent was obtained from all minor participants.

Additional information

Funding

This project was supported by a Team Nutrition Training Grant for Fiscal Year 2014 and has been funded at least in part with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the view or policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. The U.S. Department of Agriculture had no role in the design, analysis, writing, or decision to submit for publication of this article.