Plate waste in school nutrition programs : final report to Congress

Abstract

This report fulfills a request by the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations (H.R. 106-619). USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) reviewed the literature on plate waste in school nutrition programs, particularly the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), to determine the level of plate waste in these programs, factors that contribute to plate waste, and strategies that may reduce waste. The best national estimate available indicates that about 12 percent of calories from food served to students under the NSLP go uneaten. The estimate is derived from a large, nationally representative study conducted in 1991-92 and, therefore, may not reflect current conditions in schools. Some plate waste is inevitable. Nevertheless, reducing plate waste could make program operations more efficient and lower costs. Possible causes of plate waste include wide variation in student appetites and energy needs, differences between meals served and student preferences, scheduling constraints that interfere with meal consumption or result in meals being served when children are less hungry, and availability of substitute foods from competing sources. The review identified possible strategies for reducing plate waste, such as using the offer versus serve provision for meal service, rescheduling lunch hours, improving the quality and condition of food, tailoring serving sizes to student appetites via self-service, and providing nutrition education.