Salad Bars Increased Selection and Decreased Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables 1 Month After Installation in Title I Elementary Schools: A Plate Waste Study.

Objective: To evaluate the 1-month impact of salad bars on fruit and vegetable (FV) selection, intake, and waste.

Design: Pre-post quasi-experimental design.

Setting: Title I elementary schools in a large, urban district in central Virginia.

Participants: Students (grades 1-5; >95% African American) from 2 elementary schools participated in plate waste assessments (282 plates were rated at baseline, 443 at post-assessment); fourth- and fifth-grade students from 15 (of 18 eligible) schools (n = 1,193) responded to surveys.

Intervention: Digital imagery plate waste assessments were conducted before salad bars were installed (baseline) and 1 month afterward (post). Post-surveys examined student perceptions of salad bars.

Main Outcome Measures: Fruit and vegetable selection, consumption, and waste.

Analysis: General linear models (without considering clustering) examined changes in outcomes, controlling for school. Frequencies and qualitative analyses were applied to survey data.

Results: At post, students selected more types of FVs (1.81-2.58; P < .001), although FV consumption decreased by 0.65 cups (P < .001). Given the smaller portions selected, there was less FV waste (0.27 cups; P < .001) at post. Students liked the ability to choose FV from salad bars.

Conclusions And Implications: Short-term exposure to salad bars increased the number of FV students chose but decreased FV consumption. Additional strategies are needed to increase FV consumption.