249: Showcasing Success: Qualitative Evaluation of the Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative

Qualitative evaluation approaches are crucial for capturing and publicly sharing success stories, as demonstrated in the Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative, funded by USDA FNS. This initiative supports 264 School Food Authorities in enhancing the nutritional quality of school meals across the contiguous US, Washington D.C., Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands. Through interviews and thematic analysis, we capture the impact and best practices that contribute to healthier school meals.

Emily Mollenkof, MPH – Action for Healthy Kids; Leah Lessard, PhD – Action for Healthy Kids