This report describes research that Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (MPR) has conducted for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), to develop methods to track the use of "competitive foods" in schools over time. Competitive foods are foods from a la carte cafeteria sales, vending machines, school stores,…

This study of children's understanding of commercial audio and video network techniques which are designed to communicate the balanced breakfast concept indicates that children show a general lack of concept understanding. Thirteen references are cited. (Author/MER)

Effective financial management of school food service observes the following credos: (1) recognize that school food service is a business; (2) manage for productivity; (3) establish and maintain cost controls; (4) focus on expenses but not to the neglect of managing revenue; (5) balance near-term gain with long-term viability; and (6) reinvest…

A computerized menu-planning method, "Nutrient Standard Menu Planning" (NSMP), uses today's technology to create healthier menus. Field tested in 20 California school districts, the advantages of NSMP are cost effectiveness, increased flexibility, greater productivity, improved public relations, improved finances, and improved student…

Considers ways to include schools' food service departments in technology planning. Discusses school food service software applications, considerations and challenges of automating food service operations, and business-to-business Internet solutions. (EV)

Studies by Tufts University's Center on Hunger and Poverty show conclusive links between nutrition and children's cognitive development. Cognitive defects can result from complex interactions between malnutrition and "environmental insults" that come from living in poverty. Poor nutrition has longterm consequences. Print and web…

This cross-sectional, descriptive correlational research study describes the breakfast-eating habits of 846 inner-city high school students. Fifty-seven percent of students reported skipping breakfast on the day of the survey, despite the free hot-breakfast program at their high school. Significantly more girls than boys skipped breakfast, and…

In fall 1990, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) contracted with Price Waterhouse to complete a study of the use of food-service management companies (FSMCs) by school districts that participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the Tentative findings include: (1) contracts between school…

To determine the effects of a hot breakfast program on elementary school students' academic achievement, absenteeism, and lateness behaviors, a study was undertaken of standardized achievement test scores for 23 second-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders at an elementary school participating in a district-wide breakfast program. Specifically, the…

A pilot study examined the effects of improved breakfast nutrition on students' academic achievement. Participants were 142 intermediate school children who usually ate breakfast in school. All children were given the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests, Form 1, Levels A-D, and were ranked according to their total reading scores. The experimental and…

In this Congressional report, the child nutrition amendments of 1978 are described in terms of their legislative history, inflationary impact, and present revisions. The reasons and provisions for extending and expanding certain child nutrition programs under the National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 are explained. Reasons…

This publication is designed to aid school food service personnel in implementing effective food purchasing practices and obtaining optimum food quality. Part 1 outlines procedures for sound purchasing practices and presents suggested forms for use in implementing these procedures. Information is also provided on inventory systems and stock…

This booklet, designed to assist Project Head State personnel responsible for food programs, presents an extensive food buying guide and more than 40 recipes suitable for a Head Start feeding program. The food buying guide list buying information for food to be used by Project Head Start Centers serving breakfasts, lunches, and/or snacks. For each…

This is a comprehensive record of a hearing held before the General Subcommittee on Education on April 22, 1974. Its purpose was to hear testimony on H.R. 13168, a proposed amendment to the National School Lunch Act that would authorize continued purchase of commodities at market price for distribution to schools, domestic relief agencies, and…

In this issue of the IRCD Bulletin is reviewed the status of research relating to health, nutrition, and learning as pertaining to children from economically disadvantaged families. At present there is considered to be little hard evidence in support of the notion that children's present biological condition is correlated with their learning. The…