Table 2.
Generalized linear model results for the association between universal free meals and full costs for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.
| Variable | Universal Free Lunch (n = 508) | Universal Free Breakfast (n = 496) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| β (95% CI) | p-Value | β (95% CI) | p-Value | |
| Constant | 2.118 (1.153, 3.083) | 0.000 | 1.668 (0.751, 2.584) | 0.000 |
| UFM | −0.130 (−0.268, 0.007) | 0.063 | −0.180 (−0.332, −0.028) | 0.020 |
| School Size | ||||
| Small (<500 students) | referent | referent | ||
| Medium/Large (≥500 students) | −0.125 (−0.238, −0.011) | 0.032 | −0.121 (−0.273, 0.032) | 0.121 |
| Interaction: Small school × UFM | 0.130 (−0.102, 0.363) | 0.271 | 0.223 (−0.266, 0.473) | 0.080 |
| School Level | ||||
| Elementary | −0.031 (−0.117, 0.054) | 0.473 | −0.031 (−0.127, 0.064) | 0.518 |
| Middle School | referent | Referent | ||
| High School | 0.111 (−0.001, 0.222) | 0.053 | −0.025 (−0.136, 0.085) | 0.652 |
| Region | ||||
| Midwest | referent | referent | ||
| Northeast | 0.336 (0.135, 0.537) | 0.001 | 0.141 (−0.094, 0.377) | 0.237 |
| Mid-Atlantic | 0.185 (0.033, 0.338) | 0.018 | 0.250 (0.078, 0.423) | 0.005 |
| Southeast | 0.180 (0.006, 0.354) | 0.043 | 0.334 (0.114, 0.554) | 0.003 |
| Southwest | 0.080 (−0.086, 0.246) | 0.344 | 0.178 (−0.058, 0.413) | 0.138 |
| West | −0.114 (−0.230, 0.002) | 0.053 | 0.093 (−0.057, 0.244) | 0.223 |
| Mountain | 0.035 (−0.096, 0.165) | 0.603 | 0.133 (−0.516, 0.318) | 0.157 |
| Urbanicity | ||||
| Rural | Referent | referent | ||
| Suburban | 0.031 (−0.087, 0.150) | 0.184 | −0.088 (−0.230, 0.054) | 0.225 |
| Urban | −0.084 (−0.208, 0.040) | 0.607 | −0.058 (−0.220, 0.103) | 0.478 |
| FRP Meal Eligibility | ||||
| 40 to 60% | Referent | Referent | ||
| 60 to 80% | −0.056 (−0.160, 0.0479) | 0.289 | −0.068 (−0.192, 0.055) | 0.278 |
| 80 to 100% | 0.133 (0.002, 0.263) | 0.046 | −0.057 (−0.193, 0.079) | 0.408 |
| Competitive food during meals | −0.0615 (−0.205, 0.082) | 0.399 | −0.095 (−0.192, 0.055) | 0.270 |
| SFA uses food service management company | −0.203 (−0.323, −0.083) | 0.001 | −0.001 (−0.167, 0.164) | 0.988 |
| Number of food service training categories | −0.010 (−0.031, 0.011) | 0.335 | −0.030 (−0.055, −0.005) | 0.019 |
| HEI Score for Lunch | −0.004 (−0.015, 0.007) | 0.495 | -- | |
| HEI Score for Breakfast | -- | −0.003 (−0.015, 0.009) | 0.590 | |
CI, confidence interval; UFM, universal free meals; FRP, free and reduced-price; SFA, School Food Authority; HEI, Healthy Eating Index.