Menu Audit of Vegetable-Containing Food Offering in Primary School Canteens in Sydney, Australia: A Preliminary Study

Janne Beelen, Jessica E. Heffernan, Maeva Cochet-Broch, Shadia Djakovic, David Chung, Rebecca K. Golley and Astrid A. M. Poelman
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Janne Beelen: Sensory and Consumer Science, CSIRO Agriculture and Food, North Ryde, NSW 2113, Australia
Jessica E. Heffernan: Sensory and Consumer Science, CSIRO Agriculture and Food, North Ryde, NSW 2113, Australia
Maeva Cochet-Broch: Sensory and Consumer Science, CSIRO Agriculture and Food, North Ryde, NSW 2113, Australia
Shadia Djakovic: Healthy Kids Association, 38 Oxley Street, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia
David Chung: Healthy Kids Association, 38 Oxley Street, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia
Rebecca K. Golley: Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
Astrid A. M. Poelman: Sensory and Consumer Science, CSIRO Agriculture and Food, North Ryde, NSW 2113, Australia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 22, 1-10

Abstract: Children’s vegetable intakes are too low, and school canteens could provide an equitable environment to improve their intake. This study aimed to develop and apply a systematic method to quantify the proportion and variety of vegetable-containing items on primary school canteen menus and examine differences between schools of different socio-economic statuses, sizes and types. Online canteen menus from 112 primary schools in Sydney, Australia, were collected, and data were extracted on a total number of items and vegetable-containing items across different menu categories. Further, data on preparation type and variety were extracted. Differences in the proportion of vegetable items between socio-economic status, school size and type were tested. On average, 80.4 ± 34.0 items were listed, with 30% of items containing vegetables. Most sandwiches (60%) and hot foods (54%) contained no vegetables. The variety of raw vegetables (4.9 ± 1.8 types) was greater than for cooked vegetables (1.3 ± 1.2 types; p < 0.01). Limited differences were observed by socio-economic status and school type. Small schools offered fewer vegetable-containing items than large schools. While primary school canteen menus listed a large variety of items, only one-third contained vegetables. Data from this study can be used to track changes and to develop new opportunities to increase the vegetable supply in schools.

Keywords: primary school; canteen; menu audit; vegetables; child nutrition; food environments; public health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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