Parental perception of the nutritional quality of school meals and its association with students’ school lunch participation

• Study was conducted in low-income communities with large minority populations.
• Seventy percent of the children were eligible for free and reduced price meals.
• School meal participation was associated with parental perception of their nutritional quality.
• Children eligible for free and reduced meals were also more likely to participate in school meals.
• Black and Hispanic children had greater odds of participating in school meals.

This study explores the association between parental perception of the nutritional quality of school meals and whether students eat lunch served at school. We use data from five low-income cities in New Jersey that have high minority populations. Students whose parents perceive the quality of school meals to be healthy have greater odds of eating meals served at school. Recent changes in guidelines for the United States Department of Agriculture’s National School Lunch Program met with resistance from several fronts. Advocates for and implementers of improved school meals may benefit from partnering with parents to increase the acceptance and utilization of improved school offerings.