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The Relationship between School Infrastructure and School Nutrition Program Participation and Policies in New York City

Author

Listed:
  • Melissa Pflugh Prescott

    (Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 539 Bevier Hall, 905 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, USA)

  • Judith A. Gilbride

    (Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University, 411 Lafayette Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10003, USA)

  • Sean P. Corcoran

    (Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organization, Vanderbilt University, 230 Appleton Place, PMB 414, Nashville, TN 32703, USA)

  • Brian Elbel

    (Department of Population Health, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, 227 East 30th Street, New York, NY 10016, USA)

  • Kathleen Woolf

    (Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University, 411 Lafayette Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10003, USA)

  • Roland O. Ofori

    (Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 539 Bevier Hall, 905 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, USA)

  • Amy Ellen Schwartz

    (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, 426 Eggers Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA)

Abstract

School nutrition programs (SNP) provide much needed access to fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods at low or no cost. Yet, the infrastructure of school kitchens and cafeteria vary across schools, potentially contributing to systematic barriers for SNP operation and equity. The purpose of this paper is to examine the association between school infrastructure and outcomes including meal participation, untraditional lunch periods, and having an open campus. Regression analyses were conducted using administrative data for 1804 schools and school nutrition manager survey data ( n = 821) in New York City (NYC). Co-location was significantly associated with open campus status (OR = 2.84, CI: 1.11, 7.26) and high school breakfast participation (β = −0.056, p = 0.003). Overcrowding was associated with breakfast (elementary: β = −0.046, p = 0.03; middle: β = 0.051, p = 0.04; high: β = 0.042, p = 0.04) and lunch participation (elementary: β = −0.031, p = 0.01) and untraditional lunchtimes (elementary: OR = 2.47, CI: 1.05, 5.83). Higher enrollment to cafeteria capacity ratios was associated with breakfast (elementary: β = −0.025, p = 0.02) and lunch (elementary: β = −0.015, p = 0.001; high: β = 0.014, p = 0.02) participation and untraditional lunchtimes (middle: OR = 1.66, CI: 1.03, 2.68). Infrastructure characteristics are an important source of variation across NYC schools that may hinder the equity of school nutrition programs across the city.

Suggested Citation

  • Melissa Pflugh Prescott & Judith A. Gilbride & Sean P. Corcoran & Brian Elbel & Kathleen Woolf & Roland O. Ofori & Amy Ellen Schwartz, 2022. "The Relationship between School Infrastructure and School Nutrition Program Participation and Policies in New York City," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-12, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:15:p:9649-:d:881079
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sandra L. Hofferth & Sally Curtin, 2005. "Poverty, food programs, and childhood obesity," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 24(4), pages 703-726.
    2. repec:mpr:mprres:1523 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Sean P. Corcoran & Brian Elbel & Amy Ellen Schwartz, 2016. "The Effect of Breakfast in the Classroom on Obesity and Academic Performance: Evidence from New York City," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 35(3), pages 509-532, June.
    4. Amy Ellen Schwartz & Michah W. Rothbart, 2020. "Let Them Eat Lunch: The Impact of Universal Free Meals on Student Performance," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 39(2), pages 376-410, March.
    5. Leos-Urbel, Jacob & Schwartz, Amy Ellen & Weinstein, Meryle & Corcoran, Sean, 2013. "Not just for poor kids: The impact of universal free school breakfast on meal participation and student outcomes," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 88-107.
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