Table 1.

Characteristics of Randomly Selected Matched Title I Elementary Schools in Central Virginia with and without Salad Bars

	Pair 1		Pair 2		Pair 3
Variable	Salad Bar	Control	Salad Bar	Control	Salad Bar	Control
Racial / Ethnic Minoritya	≥ 85%	≥ 85%	≥ 85%	≥ 85%	≥ 85%	≥ 85%
Distance from mean (SD) Smarter Lunchroom scorea	> 1 SD	> 1 SD	> −1 SD	> −1 SD	> −1 SD	> −1 SD
Enrollment, 1st-5th grade (N)	357	451	528	290	299	373
Rating day attendance, 1st-5th grade (N)b	325	434	426b	283	267	368
Parent opt-outs, N (%)c	10 (2.8%)	3 (0.07%)	5 (0.09%)	3 (1.0%)	2 (0.7%)	7 (1.9%)
Student opt-outs in line, N (%)d	13 (4.1%)	2 (0.05%)	2 (0.04%)	4 (1.6%)	4 (1.6%)	12 (3.8%)
NSLP participation on Rating Day, n (%)e	315 (96.9%)	433 (99.8%)	481 (95.2%)	245 (86.6%)	244 (91.4%)	315 (85.6%)
Lunch Duration	30 min	30 min	30 min	25 min	30 min	30 min

Note.

Pair refers to matched pairs of schools with and without a salad bar. Pairs were matched based on %Racial/Ethnic minority (above or below 85% minority) and the lunchroom environment (distance from the mean Smarter Lunchroom score). Ratings occurred on the same day within each pair to match menu and day.

SD = Standard Deviation; NSLP = National School Lunch Program

^a% racial/ethnic minority and distance from the Smarter Lunchroom mean score for the district were used as matching variables

^b5th grade students were not in the cafeteria on the rating day due to a field trip; thus 23 students were absent from school and 79 5th graders were not present at lunch (although they received an NSLP bagged lunch, lunches were not available to be rated, thus they are excluded from attendance numbers)

^cNumber of opt-out forms received / enrollment = % parent opt-out

^dNumber of students opting out / NSLP participation on rating day = % opt-out

^eNumber of students receiving reimbursable lunch / attendance on rating day = % NSLP participation