TY - JOUR
T1 - Universal School Meals During the Pandemic
T2 - A Mixed Methods Analysis of Parent Perceptions From California and Maine
AU - Chapman, Leah Elizabeth
AU - Gosliner, Wendi
AU - Olarte, Deborah A.
AU - Ritchie, Lorrene D.
AU - Schwartz, Marlene B.
AU - Polacsek, Michele
AU - Hecht, Christina E.
AU - Hecht, Kenneth
AU - Turner, Lindsey
AU - Patel, Anisha I.
AU - Zuercher, Monica Daniela
AU - Read, Margaret
AU - Daly, Tara P.
AU - Cohen, Juliana F.W.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Background: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Congress authorized the US Department of Agriculture to waive a variety of school meal regulations and funded school meals daily for all students at no charge regardless of family income. Because federal Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) ended with the 2021-2022 school year, several states, including California and Maine, adopted state-level UFSM policies. Objective: This study aimed to understand parent perceptions of school meals and the federal and new state UFSM policies in California and Maine, including potential challenges and benefits to students and households. Design: A mixed methods study design was used. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was administered, and semi-structured interviews were conducted in English and Spanish during the 2021-2022 school year. Participants/setting: The quantitative survey was administered to parents of students in elementary, middle, and high schools in rural, suburban, and urban communities in California (n = 1110) and Maine (n = 80). Qualitative interviews were then conducted with a subset of these parents in California (n = 46) and Maine (n = 20) using Zoom (Zoom Video Communications). Most survey participants (708 of 1190 [59.5%]) and interviewees (40 of 66 [60.6%]) were parents of students who were eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Main outcome measures: Parents’ perceptions of UFSM, school meal quality, and experiences applying for free or reduced-price meals were examined. Analyses performed: Tests of proportions were used to analyze survey data. Using grounded theory, interview transcripts were analyzed qualitatively by 2 trained research assistants, applying principles of content analysis to identify themes and domains. Inter-rater reliability was conducted. Results: Parents perceived that school meals and UFSM saved families money and time, as parents had fewer meals to purchase and prepare for their children. In addition, UFSM reduced parents’ stress and reduced stigma for children and for parents, who described feelings of embarrassment when they previously filled out paperwork for free or reduced-price meals. Although parent perceptions of school meal quality and healthfulness were mixed, most parents reported feeling grateful for school meals. Conclusions: Parents had mixed opinions on the quality and healthfulness of school meals, but believed UFSM saved them money and time and reduced their stress. Parents also felt UFSM reduced stigma for families.
AB - Background: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Congress authorized the US Department of Agriculture to waive a variety of school meal regulations and funded school meals daily for all students at no charge regardless of family income. Because federal Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) ended with the 2021-2022 school year, several states, including California and Maine, adopted state-level UFSM policies. Objective: This study aimed to understand parent perceptions of school meals and the federal and new state UFSM policies in California and Maine, including potential challenges and benefits to students and households. Design: A mixed methods study design was used. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was administered, and semi-structured interviews were conducted in English and Spanish during the 2021-2022 school year. Participants/setting: The quantitative survey was administered to parents of students in elementary, middle, and high schools in rural, suburban, and urban communities in California (n = 1110) and Maine (n = 80). Qualitative interviews were then conducted with a subset of these parents in California (n = 46) and Maine (n = 20) using Zoom (Zoom Video Communications). Most survey participants (708 of 1190 [59.5%]) and interviewees (40 of 66 [60.6%]) were parents of students who were eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Main outcome measures: Parents’ perceptions of UFSM, school meal quality, and experiences applying for free or reduced-price meals were examined. Analyses performed: Tests of proportions were used to analyze survey data. Using grounded theory, interview transcripts were analyzed qualitatively by 2 trained research assistants, applying principles of content analysis to identify themes and domains. Inter-rater reliability was conducted. Results: Parents perceived that school meals and UFSM saved families money and time, as parents had fewer meals to purchase and prepare for their children. In addition, UFSM reduced parents’ stress and reduced stigma for children and for parents, who described feelings of embarrassment when they previously filled out paperwork for free or reduced-price meals. Although parent perceptions of school meal quality and healthfulness were mixed, most parents reported feeling grateful for school meals. Conclusions: Parents had mixed opinions on the quality and healthfulness of school meals, but believed UFSM saved them money and time and reduced their stress. Parents also felt UFSM reduced stigma for families.
KW - Mixed methods research
KW - Nutrition
KW - School breakfast
KW - School lunch
KW - Universal Free School Meals
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85197098639&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85197098639&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jand.2024.05.005
DO - 10.1016/j.jand.2024.05.005
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85197098639
SN - 2212-2672
JO - Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
JF - Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
ER -