Daily Saturated Fat and Sodium Content of Elementary School Meals in a Large Sample of 128 Geographically Diverse School Systems in the United States.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite federal regulations limiting saturated fat and sodium levels on a weekly average basis, daily nutrient content of school meals in the United States is not regulated, leading to potential large fluctuations and intake well in excess of dietary recommendations.

Objective

To assess the daily prevalence of potential public elementary school meal combinations that were high in saturated fat and sodium (using cutoffs based on the US Department of Agriculture weekly average reimbursable meal thresholds), and to identify saturated fat and sodium thresholds for entrées to limit full meals exceeding those cutoffs.

Design

Cross-sectional.

Participants and setting

Four weeks of publicly available public elementary school (kindergarten through grade five)

SUBMITTER: Chapman LE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10922125 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature