School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study Final Report Volume 4: Student Participation, Satisfaction, Plate Waste, and Dietary Intakes

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service administers the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program to ensure that school-age children have access to nutritious meals and snacks to support their growth and development.

In school year 2012–2013, the school meal programs began to undergo widespread changes, including new requirements that affect the food and nutrient content of school meals; the types of foods students need to select in order for their meal to be eligible for Federal reimbursement; pricing for full-price meals; and the types of foods and beverages that can be sold in schools during the school day. The School Nutrition Meal Cost Study (SNMCS) is the first nationally representative, comprehensive assessment of these programs since these reforms were implemented.

This volume of the study’s final report describes student participation in the school meal programs; parent and student satisfaction with the programs; and the types and amounts of food wasted by students. It also describes students’ dietary intakes at breakfast, lunch, and over 24 hours, and compares the dietary intakes of school meal program participants and nonparticipants.