Food supply and actions to improve dietary behaviour of students – a comparison between secondary schools participating or not participating in the ‘Healthy School Canteen Program’

OBJECTIVE
(i) To identify determinants of participation in the 'Healthy School Canteen Program', a programme that encourages schools to set up their canteen in a way that promotes healthy dietary behaviour. (ii) To compare food supply and actions between participating and non-participating schools. (iii) To investigate what reasons schools have to increase attention for nutrition in the curriculum.

DESIGN
A cross-sectional study based on information from questionnaires performed in 2010/2011.

SETTING
All secondary schools (age group 12-18 years) in the Netherlands (n 1145).

SUBJECTS
Response was 33 % (n 375). Analyses included all schools with a canteen in which food is offered (28 %, n 325).

RESULTS
None of the investigated determinants was associated with participation. Participating schools offered significantly (P < 0·001) more of eleven inventoried healthy foods (e.g. sandwiches, (butter)milk, fruit, light soft drinks, yoghurt and salad) than non-participating schools. However, there was no difference in the number of less healthy products offered (e.g. candy bars, cakes and regular soft drinks). Participating schools reported more often that they took actions to improve dietary behaviour and more often had a policy on nutrition. Participating schools more often increased attention for nutrition in the curriculum in recent years than non-participating schools (57 % v. 43 %, P = 0·01). Reported reasons were similar and included media attention, eating behaviour of students and 'overweight'.

CONCLUSIONS
Schools that participate in the programme seemed to offer more healthy products in their canteens and took more actions to improve dietary behaviour than non-participating schools. However, at all schools less healthy foods were also available.