TABLE 1.
Scoring System and Maximum Score for Each Food Category on the Nutrition Environment Measurement Survey for Tribal Convenience Stores (NEMS-TCS) by Domain
| Food Category | NEMS-TCS Domain and Points | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Availability | Points | Pricing | Points | Qualitya | Points | Placement | Points | Maximum Score | |
| Low-fat milk, lactose-free milk, and yogurt | Low fat/skim | 1 | Lowest-fat milk < whole | 2 | — | — | — | — | 7 |
| Lowest-fat milk to whole milk ≥50% | 1 | Lowest-fat milk = whole | 1 | ||||||
| Lactose-free milk | 1 | Lowest-fat milk > whole | −1 | ||||||
| Dairy alternative (soy, almond) | 1 | ||||||||
| Reduced/nonfat/Greek yogurt | 1 | ||||||||
| Fruit | Fresh varieties: | — | — | Fresh acceptable varieties: | Fresh only: Visible from store entry | 1 | 11 | ||
| 1–2 | 1 | 1–2 | 1 | ||||||
| 3–5 | 2 | 3–5 | 2 | ||||||
| >5 | 3 | >5 | 3 | ||||||
| Canned varieties: | |||||||||
| 1–2 | 1 | ||||||||
| ≥3 | 2 | ||||||||
| Pop-top/peel-away lid on can | 1 | ||||||||
| Any dried fruit | 1 | ||||||||
| Vegetables | Fresh varieties: | — | — | Fresh acceptable varieties: | Fresh only: Visible from store entry | 1 | 10 | ||
| 1–2 | 1 | 1–2 | 1 | ||||||
| 3–5 | 2 | 3–5 | 2 | ||||||
| >5 | 3 | >5 | 3 | ||||||
| Any canned or dried vegetable | 1 | ||||||||
| Pop-top/peel-away lid on can | 1 | ||||||||
| Ready-to-eat vegetable soup | 1 | ||||||||
| Canned lean meats | Tuna | 1 | Lean < high fatb | 2 | — | — | — | — | 4 |
| Chicken | 1 | Lean = high fatb | 1 | ||||||
| Lean > high fatb | −1 | ||||||||
| Lower-fatc sandwiches, wraps. and burritos | Varieties: | — | — | Acceptable: | Visible from store entry | 1 | 7 | ||
| 1–2 | 1 | >75% | 2 | ||||||
| 3–5 | 2 | 50%−74% | 1 | ||||||
| >5 | 3 | ||||||||
| Lower fat to regular ≥50% | 1 | ||||||||
| Healthy saladsd | Any salad | 1 | — | — | Acceptable: | Visible from store entry | 1 | 8 | |
| Healthy salad | 1 | >75% | 2 | ||||||
| Healthy salad dressing choicese: | 50%−74% | 1 | |||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| ≥3 | 3 | ||||||||
| Low-fatf baked goods | Varieties: | Low fat < high fat | 2 | — | — | — | — | 4 | |
| 1–2 | 1 | Low fat = high fat | 1 | ||||||
| >2 | 2 | Low fat > high fat | −1 | ||||||
| Healthy beverages | Diet soda | 1 | Diet < regular soda | 1 | — | — | Unflavored bottled water is at eye level | 1 | 13 |
| 100% fruit juice | 1 | 100% fruit juice ≤ juice drink | 1 | ||||||
| 100% vegetable juice | 1 | Unflavored bottled water < regular soda | 2 | ||||||
| Unflavored bottled water | 1 | Unflavored bottled water = regular soda | 1 | ||||||
| Unsweetened or artificially sweet tea | 1 | Unflavored bottled water > regular soda | −1 | ||||||
| Low-calorie flavored water | 1 | ||||||||
| Low-calorie sports or energy drink | 1 | ||||||||
| Low-calorie fountain | 1 | ||||||||
| beverages to regular ≥50% | |||||||||
| Baked chips | Varieties: | Baked < regular | 2 | — | — | — | — | 5 | |
| 1–2 | 2 | Baked = regular | 1 | ||||||
| >2 | 3 | Baked > regular | −1 | ||||||
| Other healthy snacks | Peanuts | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | |
| Other nuts | 1 | ||||||||
| All-beef jerky | 1 | ||||||||
| Granola or low-sugar, lower-fat protein bars | 1 | ||||||||
| Fruit and nut trail mix | 1 | ||||||||
| Ready-to-eat cereals | Healthy cold cereal (<7 g sugar) | 1 | Cold cereal: | 1 | — | — | — | — | 4 |
| Oatmeal (<7 g sugar) | 1 | Healthy < regular | 2 | ||||||
| Healthy = regular | 1 | ||||||||
| Healthy > regular | −1 | ||||||||
NOTE: Italics indicate refinements to the quality and placement domains.
a
Quality is visually assessed for perceived and/or objective freshness.
b
High-fat canned meats include potted meats and Vienna sausage.
c
Lower-fat sandwiches, wraps, and burritos contain <30% calories from fat and fewer than 500 calories.
d
Healthy salads contain spinach, romaine, or other dark-green leafy vegetable and ⩽2 high-fat toppings.
e
Healthy salad dressings include low-fat, fat-free, or oil-based salad dressings.
f
Low-fat baked goods include bagels and English muffins.