ENERGY AND MACRONUTRIENT CONSUMPTION OF ELEMENTARY-SCHOOL-CHILDREN SERVED MODIFIED LOWER FAT AND SODIUM LUNCHES OR STANDARD HIGHER FAT AND SODIUM LUNCHES

Objective: To determine the energy and macronutrient consumption of el ementary school children served modified lower fat and sodium or typic al higher fat and sodium school lunches. Design: The intervention scho ol received lunches with <30% of energy from fat and <1000 mg sodium. The control school received typical lunches with 35% of energy from fa t and >1000 mg sodium. Served lunches were analyzed from menus and con sumed lunches were analyzed using USDA plate waste methodology. Subjec ts: Eighty intervention and 80 control subjects matched for ethnicity and economic status. Results: Intervention school menus were significa ntly lower for energy, sodium, and fat compared to the control school. From analysis of plate waste, children from both schools consumed app roximately 25% less energy than served (p < 0.05). Consumption of fat as a percentage of total energy and consumption of sodium was signific antly less for the intervention compared to the control school. Compen sation for the lower fat meals by the intervention school children (ea ting greater portions of high fat items) was not evident as the percen tage of energy from fat consumed was only 1.3% greater than the percen tage which was served. Conclusions: Lunch meals in this study were con sumed as served. Intervention school children served lower fat and sod ium meals consumed less fat and sodium than control school children an d did not selectively eat only higher fat and sodium items.