Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39910590›Full record

Observational studyThe international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity2025

Impact of school salad bars on fruit and vegetable selection, intake, and waste in Mid-Atlantic elementary schools.

Melanie K Bean, Suzanne E Mazzeo, Lilian de Jonge, Laura Thornton, Hollie Raynor, Ashley Mendoza, Sarah Farthing, Bonnie Moore

Registry-linked trialAbstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05605483 (Salad Bars in the National School Lunch Program), which is not on this map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05605483 completednot on this map

Salad Bars in the National School Lunch Program: Impact on Dietary Consumption Patterns in Elementary School Students

TypeobservationalSponsorVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRan2019 to 2023Enrolled6,269ConditionsDiet, Food, and NutritionArmsSalad bar, Waitlisted control, Salad bar post-COVID
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Trial
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Melanie K BeanDepartment of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University, Box 980140, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA. Melanie.bean@vcuhealth.org.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8695-8054
Suzanne E MazzeoDepartment of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Box 842018, Richmond, VA, 23284, USA.
Lilian de JongeDepartment of Nutrition and Food Studies, George Mason University College of Public Health, 4400 University Dr. MSN 1F7, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA.
Laura ThorntonDepartment of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
Hollie RaynorDepartment of Nutrition, University of Tennessee, 1215 W. Cumberland Ave., Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA.
Ashley MendozaDepartment of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University, Box 980140, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.
Sarah FarthingDepartment of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University, Box 980140, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.
Bonnie MooreReal Food for Kids, 6166 Hardy Drive, McLean, VA, 22101, USA.

Funding

Wright Regional Center for Clinical and Translational ScienceUM1TR004360 · NCATS · VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY · PI FREDERICK Gerard MOELLER · 2023 to 2026
$16.3M
The Impact of Salad Bars on Dietary Consumption Patterns in Elementary School StudentsR01HD098732 · NICHD · VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY · PI BEAN, MELANIE K · 2019 to 2023
$2.4M
Children's Hospital Foundation unnumberedEunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development R01HD098732NCATS NIH HHS UM1 TR004360NCATS NIH HHS UM1TR004360NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD098732
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFew studies have empirically examined the impact of school salad bars on elementary students' fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption within the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). This natural experiment evaluated the impact of salad bars on FV selection, intake, and waste within elementary schools.

methodsSeven school pairs, matched on Title I status and percentage of students from ethnic or racial minority backgrounds, were randomly selected. All schools served pre-portioned FV at baseline. One school within each pair received a salad bar; the other continued to serve pre-portioned FV (Control). Digital imagery plate waste methods were applied at baseline and 4-6 weeks after schools installed salad bars (post). Images were rated in the laboratory (ICCs = .94-.99) to determine FV selection, intake, and waste (servings [1 NSLP serving = ½c]). Multilevel modeling evaluated group (Salad Bar vs Control) and time (baseline vs post) differences and group-by-time interactions. Differences in outcomes by Title I status were also examined.

resultsAcross schools, mean NSLP participation was 54%. N = 6,623 trays were included (n = 3,273 Salad Bar; n = 3,350 Control). Students in Salad Bar schools selected (+ .44c) and consumed (+ .36c) more FV at post, compared to baseline. Control students decreased FV selection (-.05c) with no change in intake from baseline to post. Group, time, and group-by-time interactions were significant (ps < .0001). When examined separately, results suggest that these effects are driven by fruit. Salad Bar students increased fruit selection (+ .45c), intake (+ .36c), and waste (+ .09c) from baseline to post; no significant changes were observed in Controls. There was no significant change in vegetable selection, intake or waste for either group. Findings did not differ based on Title I status.

conclusionsSalad bars were effective in increasing elementary school students' fruit selection and intake, yet did not increase vegetable selection or intake. Additional efforts are needed to increase vegetable intake and minimize fruit waste from salad bars. Consistent findings across schools, regardless of Title I status, suggest potential for salad bars to yield increased fruit intake across socioeconomic groups. Findings can inform policies designed to increase FV intake within the NSLP.

trial registrationThis investigation reports results of a systematic evaluation of school salad bars and does not meet criteria for a clinical trial, yet was retrospectively registered (10/28/22) in clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05605483) as an observational study.

Indexed as

DietFood PreferencesFood ServicesSchoolsChildFemaleFruitHumansLunchMaleSaladsStudentsVegetablesElementary schoolFruit and vegetableNational School Lunch ProgramPlate wasteSalad bar

Identifiers

PMID39910590
PMCPMC11800604

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.