The School Lunch Initiative is a comprehensive effort to integrate cooking and gardening education into the academic school day in Berkeley elementary and middle schools while revamping the school meal offerings and dining environment. The School Lunch Initiative is effective in increasing student nutrition knowledge, as well as preference for and consumption of healthy foods, particularly fruitss and vegetables among elementary school students. Students’ attitudes about the taste and health value of school lunch improved as the changes were put into place. Continued School Lunch Initiative exposure into middle school may be important in mitigating negative changes in eating behaviors in the middle school period.

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