VegUP: The effect of a vegetable-focused menu in primary school canteens

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: low vegetable intake; poor diet; Public Health - Health promotion/education; Diet and Nutrition - Other diet and nutrition disorders

• Registration Number: ACTRN12621000564853
• Lead Sponsor: Commonwealth Industrial and Scientific Research Organisation

Brief Summary

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of an 8-week multi-strategy behavioural intervention that included vegetable provisioning and online menu architecture on vegetable sales in primary school canteens. A randomized controlled trial was undertaken in 16 Australian primary schools (n=4302 students). The control arm kept their regular canteen menu. The main outcome was vegetable sales measured by assessing vegetable content (in grams) from all menu items and using canteen sales (ordered online and over-the-counter) to calculate vegetable sales (in g/wk) before the intervention (for 3 weeks) and while the intervention was implemented (for 8 weeks). Other outcomes were vegetable sales in subcategories, acceptability of the intervention among canteen managers and vegetable waste (4 schools). Analysis showed that the intervention group had higher weekly vegetable sales overall compared with the control group (average increase of 2707g/week), with increased vegetable sales in the subcategories of burgers, hot foods and snacks, but not in sandwiches and pasta/rice dishes. The intervention did not lead to more vegetable waste, nor to a decrease in canteen revenue. The canteen managers found the intervention easy to implement and felt children responded favourably to three of the seven strategies. In conclusion, a multi-strategy behavioural canteen intervention increased vegetable sales amongst primary school students.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Results First Posted: 1900-01-01
• Study Start: 2021-05-13
• Study Completion: 2022-04-30
• Last Update Posted: 24 April 2023

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 4302

Inclusion Criteria

Schools (through principals) and canteen managers in metropolitan Sydney (NSW) will be recruited that meet the following inclusion criteria:
- Government, independent and catholic primary schools (Kindergarten - Year 6) with a school canteen
- School canteen is operating with an online ordering system (Cashless) with more than 70% of sales done online
- School canteen is operating at least 3 days a week
- Principals are willing to let their school participate and are willing to share de-identified sales data (provided by online ordering system provider)
- Canteen managers are willing to implement changes to their vegetable provision and participate in a follow up survey

For the process evaluation, parents will be eligible for participation when:
- Child is enrolled in intervention school
- Parent regularly (at least once a week) orders food for their child from the school canteen via online ordering
- Parent does not exclusively order foods via recurring ordering

Exclusion Criteria

Exclusion criteria for schools:
- Schools registered as a Special Needs school
- Combined schools (K-12)

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified