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This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2007.129387v1 99/4/706    most recent Submit a response View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cullen, K. W. Articles by Watson, K. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cullen, K. W. Articles by Watson, K. B. Related Collections Obesity, Overweight, Underweight Health Promotion School Health Nutrition/Food Prevention Other Child and Adolescent Health

Karen W. Cullen, DrPH, RD and Kathleen B. Watson, MS

The authors are with the Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA/ARS), Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Karen W. Cullen, DrPH, RD, Associate Professor Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1100 Bates Street, Houston, TX 77030-2600 (e-mail: kcullen{at}bcm.tmc.edu).

Objectives. We assessed the statewide impact of the 2004 Texas Public School Nutrition Policy on foods and beverages served or sold in schools.

Methods. We collected lunch food production records from 47 schools in 11 Texas school districts for the school years before (2003–2004) and after (2004–2005) policy implementation. Cafeteria servings of fruit, vegetables (regular and fried), and milk served each day were calculated. Twenty-three schools from 5 districts provided records of à la carte sales of candy, chips, desserts, drinks, ice cream, and water. We examined aggregated school-level differences in total items served or sold per day per student between study years.

Results. School demographics were similar to state data. Regardless of district and school size, cafeterias served significantly fewer high-fat vegetable items per student postpolicy (P < .001). Postpolicy snack bar sales of large bags of chips were significantly reduced (P = .006), and baked chips sales significantly increased (P = .048).

Conclusions. School food policy changes have improved foods served or sold to students. It is not known whether improved lunch choices influence consumption for the whole day.