Meatless Monday National School Meal Program Evaluation: Impact on Nutrition, Cost, and Sustainability. Issue 1 (2nd January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Blondin, Stacy A.; Cash, Sean B.; Griffin, Timothy S.; Goldberg, Jeanne P.; Economos, Christina D.
• Is Part Of: Journal of hunger & environmental nutrition. Volume 17:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 13
• Publication Date: 2022-01-02
• Subjects: National School Lunch Program -- Meatless Monday -- vegetarian -- environmental impact -- sustainability -- school meals; Nutrition -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Hunger -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Food supply -- Periodicals; 613.2
• DOI: 10.1080/19320248.2020.1842283
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1932-0248

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the nutritional, economic, and environmental impacts of a Meatless Monday (MM) National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in a large urban US school district. After averaging the nutrient content of entrees across the week and comparing changes relative to recommendations, there were no pre-post differences >15%. Monday entrees offered post-MM required considerably less water to produce (−51%) and were associated with fewer greenhouse gas emissions (−74%). The MM program had little impact on entrée cost (−2.5%). Further research is needed to determine how MM program goals can be achieved within the NSLP context.