Background: The National School Lunch Program has been guided by modest nutrient standards, and
the palatability of meals, which drives consumption, receives inadequate attention. School food waste can
have important nutritional and cost implications for policymakers, students, and their families.
Purpose: Nutrient losses and economic costs associated with school meal waste were examined.
The study also assessed if school foods served were valid proxies for foods consumed by students....
Authors: Juliana Cohen, Scott Richardson, S. Bryn Austin, Christina Economos, Eric Rimm