Universal School Meals During the Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Analysis of Parent Perceptions from California and Maine

Leah Elizabeth Chapman; Wendi Gosliner; Deborah A Olarte; Lorrene D Ritchie; Marlene B Schwartz; Michele Polacsek; Christina E Hecht; Kenneth Hecht; Lindsey Turner; Anisha I Patel; Monica Daniela Zuercher; Margaret Read; Tara P Daly; Juliana Fw Cohen

doi:10.1016/j.jand.2024.05.005

Universal School Meals During the Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Analysis of Parent Perceptions from California and Maine

J Acad Nutr Diet. 2024 May 10:S2212-2672(24)00217-X. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2024.05.005. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Merrimack College, 315 Turnpike St, North Andover, MA 01845; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115.
² Project Scientist, Nutrition Policy Institute, 1111 Franklin Street, 11th Floor, Oakland, CA 94607.
³ Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Merrimack College, 315 Turnpike St, North Andover, MA 01845.
⁴ Director of the Nutrition Policy Institute, Nutrition Policy Institute, 1111 Franklin Street, 11th Floor, Oakland, CA 94607.
⁵ Professor of Human Development and Family Sciences, Director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Health, University of Connecticut, 1 Constitution Plaza, Suite 600, Hartford CT 06103.
⁶ Professor of Public Health, Director of the Center for Excellence in Public Health, University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Rd, Biddeford, ME 04005.
⁷ Senior Policy Advisor, Nutrition Policy Institute, 1111 Franklin Street, 11th Floor, Oakland, CA 94607.
⁸ UC ANR Nutrition Policy Institute Coordinator, Nutrition Policy Institute, 1111 Franklin Street, 11th Floor, Oakland, CA 94607.
⁹ Research Professor, Director of the Center for School & Community Partnerships, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID 83725.
¹⁰ Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Director, Community-Engaged Research, Stanford Maternal and Child Health Research Institute, 3145 Porter Drive, F110, Palo Alto, CA 94304.
¹¹ Assistant Project Researcher, Nutrition Policy Institute, 1111 Franklin Street, 11th Floor, Oakland, CA 94607.
¹² Senior Manager, Policy and Research, Share Our Strength, 1030 15th St NW Suite 1100, Washington, District of Columbia, 20005.
¹³ Research Program Manager, Center for Health Inclusion Research, and Practice, Merrimack College, 315 Turnpike St, North Andover, MA 01845.
¹⁴ Associate Professor, Department of Nutrition and Public Health, Director, Center for Health Inclusion, Research and Practice, Merrimack College, 315 Turnpike St, North Andover, MA 01845; Adjunct Professor, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115.

PMID: 38735530
DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2024.05.005

Abstract

Background: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Congress authorized the United States Department of Agriculture to waive a variety of school meal regulations and funded school meals daily for all students at no charge regardless of family income. Since federal Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) ended with the 2021-2022 school year, several states, including California and Maine, adopted state-level UFSM policies.

Objective: This study aimed to understand parent perceptions of school meals and the federal and new state UFSM policies in California and Maine, including potential challenges and benefits to students and households.

Design: A mixed methods study design was used. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was administered, and semi-structured interviews were conducted in English and Spanish during the 2021-2022 school year.

Participants/setting: The quantitative survey was administered to parents of students in elementary, middle, and high schools in rural, suburban, and urban communities in California (n=1,110) and Maine (n=80). Qualitative interviews were then conducted with a subset of these parents in California (n=46) and Maine (n=20) using Zoom^TM. Most survey participants (708 out of 1,190; 59.5%) and interviewees (40 out of 66; 60.6%) were parents of students who were eligible for free or reduced-price meals (FRPM).

Main outcome measures: Parents' perceptions of UFSM, school meal quality, and experiences applying for FRPM were examined.

Analyses performed: Tests of proportions were used to analyze survey data. Using grounded theory, interview transcripts were analyzed qualitatively by 2 trained research assistants, applying principles of content analysis to identify themes and domains. Inter-rater reliability was conducted.

Results: Parents perceived that school meals and UFSM saved families money and time, as parents had fewer meals to purchase and prepare for their children. Additionally, UFSM reduced parents' stress and reduced stigma for children and for parents, who described feelings of embarrassment when they previously filled out paperwork for FRPM. While parent perceptions of school meal quality and healthfulness were mixed, most parents reported feeling grateful for school meals.

Conclusions: Parents had mixed opinions on the quality and healthfulness of school meals, but believed UFSM saved them money and time and reduced their stress. Parents also felt UFSM reduced stigma for families.

Keywords: mixed methods research; nutrition; school breakfast; school lunch; universal free school meals.