The Antioch Unified School District is one of several California schools testing a version of the Nutrient Standard Menu Planning (NSMP) to meet the new rules that require all schools to reduce the fat content of meals. NSMP, presently implemented at the elementary level, has increased flexibility in menu planning and led to better management and…

School lunches must be nutritious, filling, and appealing. The school cafeteria has become an increasingly important place to serve healthful meals and teach good eating habits. The article describes schools that have organized better meals and discusses how parent-teacher organizations can help bring better nutrition to school lunches. (SM)

Describes selecting and installing a computerized point of sale for a district food service program; the equipment needed and preferred; and the training of trainers, managers, and cashiers. Also discusses the direct benefits and side benefits of the system. (MLF)

Changes in the marketing and management of a Pennsylvania food service program made it more attractive to students. An increase in student participation and operational efficiency yielded profitability in food service operations. (MLF)

This year's budget cleaver has chopped away at school cafeteria budgets across the country. In some districts, this means fewer choices on the lunch line, fewer staffers, deteriorating equipment, and more sales of snack and processed foods. Some schools have dropped the School Lunch Program because of budget cuts. (MLH)

Some young people refuse to eat anything that once had a face. Since a vegetarian child can make food choices just as unhealthy as those of a meat-eating child, nutritionists recommend that school food-service directors adapt traditional nutritional foods that children like to a vegetarian menu. (MLF)

By offering healthy fare and providing nutrition education, school districts across the country are trying to lessen problems of childhood obesity while selling food that kids will eat. Luckily, chicken nuggets and other "fast foods" can taste just as good when made with less fat. (MLH)

Data from interviews with 299 teachers in 46 English primary schools revealed that the correlation between free school meals and achievement and between free school meals and special educational needs may stem from teacher judgments. The very poorest schools with the lowest achievement have substantially higher levels of special needs identified…

With nearly 27 million school children participating in the National School Lunch Program and in 1999 $5.46 billion spent to fund it, school lunch is clearly a part of the experience of schooling for most children. But, if one accepts the definition of curriculum as the planned experiences that happen in school (Ornstein & Levine, 1989), then…

Background: This study examined physical activity opportunities and barriers at 36 geographically diverse middle schools participating in the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls. Methods: Principals, physical education and health education department heads, and program leaders were interviewed to assess policies and instructional practices that…

Outlines (1) the changes that have occurred in school food service since the National School Lunch Act of 1946, (2) the choices in foods served and in new markets, and (3) an action plan for the challenges facing school food service professionals. (MLF)

Successful school food service programs require cooperation between employees and students and between the director and individual managers. Student participation can be increased by the use of marketing techniques and listening to students' requests. (MLF)

The Go for Health project uses interventions based on school change and social learning theory to facilitate changes in diet and exercise behavior by elementary school children. A summary of both school and student outcomes is given, and the intervention model is described. (Author/MT)

The first of three articles covering child nutrition programs discusses how these programs can be integrated into the school environment through effective management and public relations. (MLF)

Examined reduction of noise levels in an elementary school lunchroom as a function of feedback. Results indicate that feedback plus reinforcement was effective in reducing noise levels. Feedback only was also effective, but to a lesser degree. No relationship existed between noise level and other behaviors. (Author/BEF)