A "healthy school meal environment" not only gives students opportunities to make healthy meal choices but also encourages them to do so. The extent to which a healthy school meal environment affects the success of USDA's school meals programs is currently a subject of debate. The policy strategies that can be used to encourage such an environment for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP)also are subjects of debate. Environmental factors considered to be important include: (1) the nutritional quality, variety, and acceptability of program meals; (2) meal scheduling; (3) nutrition education; and (4) sales of non-USDA ("competitive") foods. Other factors contributing to an overall healthy nutrition environment in the school include a commitment to physical activity, and promotion of healthy eating and physical activity. This issue brief reviews information on the first three of these school meal environment factors. Competitive foods are discussed in a separate issue brief.
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