Abstract
Background
Previous studies document decreases in lunchtime milk consumption immediately after
flavored milk is removed. Less is known about longer-term effects.
Objective
Plain milk selection and consumption were measured the first year flavored milk was
removed in a school district (2010 to 2011 [Time 1]) and 2 years later (2012 to 2013
[Time 2]). Four behavioral economic interventions to promote milk were tested in one
school at Time 2.
Design
This was a longitudinal, observational study.
Participants/Setting
Participants were kindergarten through grade 8 students in two schools in an urban
district. Primary data were collected 10 times per school year at Time 1 and Time
2, yielding 40 days of data and 13,883 student observations. The milk promotion interventions
were tested on 6 additional days.
Main outcome measures
Outcomes were the percentage of students selecting milk at lunch, the ounces of milk
consumed per carton, and the ounces of milk consumed school-wide per student.
Statistical analyses
Logistic regressions were used to assess how sex, grade, time, availability of 100%
juice, and behavioral interventions affected milk selection and consumption.
Results
At Time One, 51.5% of students selected milk and drank 4 oz (standard deviation=3.2
oz) per carton, indicating school-wide per-student consumption of 2.1 oz (standard
deviation=3.0 oz). At Time Two, 72% of students selected milk and consumed 3.4 oz
per carton (standard deviation=3.2 oz), significantly increasing the school-wide per-student
consumption to 2.5 oz (standard deviation=3.1 oz). Older students and boys consumed
significantly more milk. Availability of 100% fruit juice was associated with a 16–percentage
point decrease in milk selection. None of the behavioral economic interventions significantly
influenced selection.
Conclusions
These data suggest that after flavored milk is removed from school cafeterias, school-wide
per-student consumption of plain milk increases over time. In addition, the presence
of 100% juice is associated with lower milk selection.
Keywords
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Biography
M. B. Schwartz is director, UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, Hartford; at the time of the study, she was a senior research scientist, Yale University, New Haven, CT.
Biography
K. E. Henderson is sole proprietor, Henderson Consulting, Guilford, CT; at the time of the study, she was a research scientist, Yale University, New Haven, CT.
Biography
M. Read is a research associate, UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, Hartford; at the time of the study, she was a research associate, Yale University, New Haven, CT.
Biography
T. Cornelius is a graduate student, Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 14, 2017
Accepted:
May 24,
2017
Received:
June 1,
2016
Footnotes
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
FUNDING/SUPPORT This study was funded by the Cornell Center for Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Programs and the Rudd Foundation.
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
