Diet, Food, and NutritionNCT05605483
Salad Bars in the National School Lunch Program: Impact on Dietary Consumption Patterns in Elementary School Students
An observational study of Diet, Food, and Nutrition, run by Virginia Commonwealth University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This project is a research study looking at what foods students choose and eat during school lunch and examines how salad bars impact what children eat. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 5 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Diet, Food, and Nutrition
- What is being tested?
- Salad bar and Salad bar post-COVID
- How many people
- 6,269 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 13 Feb 2019to 26 Apr 2023
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 5 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Study population: All K-6th students who participate in the school lunch program and all cafeteria personnel at target schools
Who may be able to join
- Students: All K-6th grade students at target schools who participate in the school lunch program on rating day
- Cafeteria staff: All cafeteria personnel at the randomly selected target schools will be eligible to complete surveys
Who cannot join
- Students: Unsure sex of child
- Cafeteria staff: None
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Healthy Lifestyles Center at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU
Henrico, Virginia, 23229
About this study
This project is a research study looking at what foods students choose and eat during school lunch and examines how salad bars impact what children eat.
Read the detailed description
This project applies a wait list control cluster randomized controlled trial to evaluate school salad bars. This project uses digital images (pictures) of labeled trays in the cafeteria before and after children eat lunch. This project also asks cafeteria workers about their thoughts about salad bars and their experiences with the salad bar program.
- Conditions
- Diet, Food, and Nutrition
- Being tested
- Salad bar, Waitlisted control, Salad bar post-COVID
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Salad barOther
Schools where the school district has installed salad bars
Waitlisted controlOther
Schools where the school district has not yet installed salad bars
Salad bar post-COVIDOther
Schools where the school distract has re-opened salad bars will have methods repeated in a subset of schools post-COVID-19
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Schools with salad bars | Schools with salad bars Receives: Other: Salad bar | |
| Schools without salad bars | Schools without salad bars Receives: Other: Waitlisted control | |
| Schools with salad parts post COVID-19 | A subset schools with salad bars that were examined pre-COVID-19 will undergo methods again. Receives: Other: Salad bar post-COVID |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
fruits and vegetables (FV) selection
Amount of FV selection will be calculated based on digital photographs of student's lunch trays before consumption
Measured: Baseline to up to 6 weeks after salad bars installed
FV consumption
Amount of FV consumed will be calculated by subtracting amount of FV remaining after lunch is consumed from amount of FV selected based on digital photographs of student's lunch trays before and after consumption.
Measured: Baseline to up to 6 weeks after salad bars installed
Secondary outcomes (6)
energy intake (kcal)
Amount of calories consumed will be calculated by subtracting the total amount of calories remaining on trays from the total amount of calories initially selected based on digital photographs of student's lunch trays before and after consumption.
Measured: Baseline to up to 6 weeks after salad bars installed
dietary quality (Healthy Eating Index)
the Healthy Eating Index will be calculated for food and beverages consumed at lunch (amount on the tray before minus after consumption) using NDSR
Measured: Baseline to up to 6 weeks after salad bars installed
fruits and vegetables (FV) selection post-COVID-19
To examine the the impact of salad bars on student dietary intake patterns after their reintroduction post-COVID-19 school closures. Amount of FV selection will be calculated based on digital photographs of student's lunch trays before consumption
Measured: 4-6 weeks after salad bars re-installed
FV consumption post-COVID-19
To examine the the impact of salad bars on student dietary intake patterns after their reintroduction post-COVID-19 school closures. Amount of FV consumed will be calculated by subtracting amount of FV remaining after lunch is consumed from amount of FV selected based on digital photographs of student's lunch trays before and after consumption.
Measured: 4-6 weeks after salad bars re-installed
energy intake (kcal) post-COVID-19
To examine the the impact of salad bars on student dietary intake patterns after their reintroduction post-COVID-19 school closures. Amount of calories consumed will be calculated by subtracting the total amount of calories remaining on trays from the total amount of calories initially selected based on digital photographs of student's lunch trays before and after consumption.
Measured: 4-6 weeks after salad bars re-installed
dietary quality (Healthy Eating Index) post-COVID-19
To examine the the impact of salad bars on student dietary intake patterns after their reintroduction post-COVID-19 school closures. The Healthy Eating Index will be calculated for food and beverages consumed at lunch (amount on the tray before minus after consumption) using NDSR
Measured: 4-6 weeks after salad bars re-installed
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Nov 2022
- Study start13 Feb 2019
- Primary completion26 Apr 2023
- Study completion26 Apr 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Diet, Food, and NutritionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Virginia Commonwealth UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 6,269 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Virginia Commonwealth University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- George Mason University, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Melanie K Bean, PhD, Principal investigator, VCU
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05605483
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- HM20012226
- Status last verified
- Jul 2023
- First submitted
- 28 Oct 2022
- Last updated
- 2 Aug 2023
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Bean MK, Mazzeo SE, de Jonge L, Thornton L, Raynor H, Mendoza A, Farthing S, Moore B. Impact of school salad bars on fruit and vegetable selection, intake, and waste in Mid-Atlantic elementary schools. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2025 Feb 5;22(1):15. doi: 10.1186/s12966-025-01713-y.
PubMed 39910590Bean MK, Raynor HA, Thornton LM, de Jonge L, Mazzeo SE. Design and rationale for evaluating the impact of salad bars on elementary school students' fruit, vegetable, and energy intake: a wait list control, cluster randomized controlled trial. BMC Public Health. 2022 Dec 9;22(1):2304. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-14744-y.
PubMed 36494649
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Aug 2023. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Salad Bars in the National School Lunch Program: Impact on Dietary Consumption Patterns in Elementary School Students
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05605483
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HM20012226
- Conditions
- Diet, Food, and Nutrition
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 6,269 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Virginia Commonwealth UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- George Mason University, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Study start
- 13 Feb 2019 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 26 Apr 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 26 Apr 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 4 Nov 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This project is a research study looking at what foods students choose and eat during school lunch and examines how salad bars impact what children eat.
Detailed description
This project applies a wait list control cluster randomized controlled trial to evaluate school salad bars. This project uses digital images (pictures) of labeled trays in the cafeteria before and after children eat lunch. This project also asks cafeteria workers about their thoughts about salad bars and their experiences with the salad bar program.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Schools with salad bars | – | Other: Salad barSchools with salad bars |
| Schools without salad bars | – | Other: Waitlisted controlSchools without salad bars |
| Schools with salad parts post COVID-19 | – | Other: Salad bar post-COVIDA subset schools with salad bars that were examined pre-COVID-19 will undergo methods again. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 5 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- All K-6th students who participate in the school lunch program and all cafeteria personnel at target schools
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Students: All K-6th grade students at target schools who participate in the school lunch program on rating day
- Cafeteria staff: All cafeteria personnel at the randomly selected target schools will be eligible to complete surveys
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Students: Unsure sex of child
- Cafeteria staff: None
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Salad barSchools where the school district has installed salad bars | Other | Schools with salad bars |
| Waitlisted controlSchools where the school district has not yet installed salad bars | Other | Schools without salad bars |
| Salad bar post-COVIDSchools where the school distract has re-opened salad bars will have methods repeated in a subset of schools post-COVID-19 | Other | Schools with salad parts post COVID-19 |
Primary outcome
fruits and vegetables (FV) selection
Time frame: Baseline to up to 6 weeks after salad bars installed
Amount of FV selection will be calculated based on digital photographs of student's lunch trays before consumption
FV consumption
Time frame: Baseline to up to 6 weeks after salad bars installed
Amount of FV consumed will be calculated by subtracting amount of FV remaining after lunch is consumed from amount of FV selected based on digital photographs of student's lunch trays before and after consumption.
6 secondary outcomes
energy intake (kcal)
Time frame: Baseline to up to 6 weeks after salad bars installed
dietary quality (Healthy Eating Index)
Time frame: Baseline to up to 6 weeks after salad bars installed
fruits and vegetables (FV) selection post-COVID-19
Time frame: 4-6 weeks after salad bars re-installed
FV consumption post-COVID-19
Time frame: 4-6 weeks after salad bars re-installed
energy intake (kcal) post-COVID-19
Time frame: 4-6 weeks after salad bars re-installed
dietary quality (Healthy Eating Index) post-COVID-19
Time frame: 4-6 weeks after salad bars re-installed
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Aug 2023.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 39910590Bean MK, Mazzeo SE, de Jonge L, Thornton L, Raynor H, Mendoza A, Farthing S, Moore B. Impact of school salad bars on fruit and vegetable selection, intake, and waste in Mid-Atlantic elementary schools. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2025 Feb 5;22(1):15. doi: 10.1186/s12966-025-01713-y.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 36494649Bean MK, Raynor HA, Thornton LM, de Jonge L, Mazzeo SE. Design and rationale for evaluating the impact of salad bars on elementary school students' fruit, vegetable, and energy intake: a wait list control, cluster randomized controlled trial. BMC Public Health. 2022 Dec 9;22(1):2304. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-14744-y.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Melanie K Bean, PhD principal investigator
VCU
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Diet, Food, and Nutrition, run by Virginia Commonwealth University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Aug 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
fruits and vegetables (FV) selection (time frame: Baseline to up to 6 weeks after salad bars installed). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05605483, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Aug 2023.