Factors related to Student Food Choice in High Schools: A Case Study at the Boston Arts Academy.
Fitzpatrick, Kaleigh.
2011
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Abstract: Abstract At present, the health and
nutrition of youth are a national priority in the efforts to mitigate the childhood obesity
epidemic affecting the United States. The main purposes of this research were to gain an
understanding of the choices Boston Arts Academy (BAA) students made for lunch, and the
factors that might be related to these choices. A student survey comprised of both ... read moremultiple
choice and open-ended questions provided the core data for this study. During interviews in
spring 2010 with the Tufts Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Field Projects team,
members of the BAA administration observed that relatively few students ate the cafeteria
meal. The administration was concerned that this low participation was at least partly due
to the poor quality of the food available through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
In addition, it appeared to the administration that cafeteria meals were primarily eaten by
students from low income families, thus creating a potential stigma surrounding cafeteria
meals that may partly account for the low participation rates. Results confirmed the BAA
administration's assumption that the majority of students participating in the school lunch
program were those qualifying for the NSLP, but interestingly, it was the students who
received free or reduced price lunches who were more likely to report a stigma associated
with the cafeteria meal [F(2, 204) = 53.72, p < .01]. Of the small number of students
that responded to an open-ended survey question, the majority described the lunch food as
unappealing, supporting the BAA's assumption that low participation is due, at least in
part, to poor food quality. Further research focused on food choices made by high school
students is needed to implement changes in an effort to improve the nutritious food options
for school lunch.
Thesis (M.A.)--Tufts University, 2011.
Submitted to the Dept. of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning.
Advisor: Francine Jacobs.
Committee: Richard Lerner, and Alicia Doyle Lynch.
Keywords: Public policy, and Developmental psychology.read less - ID:
- kk91fz609
- Component ID:
- tufts:20812
- To Cite:
- TARC Citation Guide EndNote
