School meal data collection and documentation methods in a multisite study

• Published in: School foodservice research review (USA) Vol. 20; no. 2
• Main Authors: Ebzery, M.K. (New England Medical Center Hospital, Boston, MA.), Montgomery, D.H, Evans, M.A, Hewes, L.V, Zive, M.M, Reed, D.B, Rice, R, Hann, B, Dwyer, J.T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 1996
• Subjects: ALIMENTACION DEL NINO; ALIMENTATION DE L'ENFANT; CHILD FEEDING; COLLECTE DE DONNEES; CORPS GRAS; DATA COLLECTION; DIET; DIETA; DIETARY GUIDELINES; DIRECTIVE ALIMENTAIRE; DIRECTRICES DIETETICAS; DOCUMENTACION; DOCUMENTATION; EVALUACION; EVALUATION; FATS; FOOD SERVICE; GRASAS; HUMAN NUTRITION; MEAL PATTERNS; MENUS; METHODE; METHODOLOGY; METHODS; METODOS; NUTRICION HUMANA; NUTRITION HUMAINE; NUTRITIONAL ADEQUACY; PAUTAS ALIMENTARIAS; PROGRAM EVALUATION; RECOLECCION DE DATOS; REGIME ALIMENTAIRE; RESTAURATION COLLECTIVE; SCHEMA ALIMENTAIRE; SERVICIOS DE ALIMENTACION
• ISSN: 0149-6808

Congress and the US. Department of Agriculture have mandated that school food service programs implement the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to help promote children's health. Research and training efforts designed to help schools reduce the fat, saturated fat, and sodium content of their menus should be evaluated using standardized and reproducible methods. This report describes school meal data collection and documentation methods for the Eat Smart School Nutrition Program, the food service intervention component of the Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health (CATCH). It presents procedures and instruments for documenting school menu, recipe, and vendor product information and related quality control measures. In addition, it discusses the advantages and disadvantages of existing school meal data collection methods and the rationale for developing a system for the CATCH Eat Smart Program. The CATCH school meal data collection and documentaton protocol provides a feasible method for obtaining quality data needed to assess and monitor nutrients in school meals