Faith Community Events for Children: Good for the Soul but Lack Nutrition

Most faith-based and private schools and associated afterschool programs operate independently without dietary requirements. A pilot study is the first to examine foods served within faith community settings related to child health. Results showed that pizza and pasta made up 71 percent of the main dishes; cheese was the main source of dairy products; high fat desserts were served at 75 percent of the events; and sugar-sweetened beverages were served at 71 percent of the events.