Food Service Perspectives on National School Lunch Program Implementation

Objectives: This paper explores barriers and facilitators to implementation of the new National School Lunch Program (NSLP) policy guidelines. Methods: Interviews with 8 food service directors using an interview guide informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Results: Food service personnel; parents, teachers, school staff; and students were seen as important stakeholders. Characteristics of the new NSLP policy guidelines were reported to create increased demands; resources alleviated some barriers. Directors reported increased food and labor costs, food sourcing challenges, decreased student participation, and organizational constraints as barriers to implementation. Creativity in menu planning facilitated success. Conclusions: Factors within the food service department, characteristics of implementing individuals and the new NSLP policy guidelines, and stakeholder involvement in the implementation process relate to successful implementation.